3.7.15 AREA 15 - ST JOHN'S POINT DOWN TO RATHLIN ISLAND
 
3.7.15.1 St. John's Point, Co. Down to Rathlin Island forms the entire Southwest side of the North Channel, which carries a considerable volume of seaborne traffic through a relatively narrow seaway.
   
3.7.15.2 It also contains two of the most important commercial ports in Ireland, Belfast and Larne, as well as a number of very viable fishing ports and leisure centres, such as Bangor, Portavogie, Ballywalter, Portaferry, Strangford and Ardglass.
   
3.7.15.3 This coastal area can be divided roughly in two for the purpose of describing the natural features of its terrain. With the exceptions of the Maidens Rocks and Hunter Rock, both of which are very well lighted, the coast from Fair Head to Black Head, at the Northeastern entrance to Belfast Lough, is quite steep-to, with deep water off, and no navigational hazards to speak of. However, on passing South of Belfast Lough, the coast from Mew Island to the entrance to Strangford Lough is low-lying, rock strewn and decidedly inhospitable, apart from Donaghadee Sound, from the Mariner's viewpoint.
   
3.7.15.4 Inshore channels are virtually non existent along this stretch of coast, as all but the smallest of craft keeps well East of the two major floating aids, South Rock Light Float and the Skulmartin Buoy. In the case of Donaghadee Sound, this passage has in it a number of shoal patches which are adequately buoyed and lighted for safe navigation. It is not suitable for large vessels but does attract a considerable amount of Belfast traffic, which would otherwise be obliged to pass East of Mew Island.
   
3.7.15.5 Belfast and Strangford Loughs are the only two inlets, which offer shelter to vessels seeking refuge from adverse weather. Belfast Lough being open to the East is of limited use in this respect. However, Audley Roads, in Strangford Lough, provides an all-weather anchorage for smaller commercial vessels, fishing boats and leisure craft.

Reproduced from Admiralty Chart 1121 by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the hydrographic offices of France and the United Kingdom (www.ukho.gov.uk) NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATON

Figure 14: ShipRoutes overlay for some of the 241 routes identified within a 20 nm of Belfast

3.7.15.6 Within a radius of 20nm of Belfast there are some 24,578 vessel movements per annum using 241 routes- See figure 14 above.
   
3.7.15.7 The large volume of through traffic has been sustained by container traffic into Liverpool. There has also been a considerable increase in sailing and leisure traffic through this area.
   
3.7.15.8 IMO TSS indicates an important routing point within area 15.
   
3.7.15.9 The changes proposed for this area can be summarised, as follows: