3.7.20	AREA 20 - TUSKAR TO BAILY
3.7.20.1	The Tuskar to Baily region is unique on the Irish Coast for its preponderance of shallow banks and relatively low-lying coastline.
3.7.20.2	Banks extend up to nine miles off the coast with some drying at low water. These banks are gradually extending northwards requiring ongoing reviews of buoy positions.
3.7.20.3	TThe coastline, with the exception of a series of prominent headlands, is low lying. This, combined with the distance offshore of the dangerous banks, necessitates a reliance on floating aids.
3.7.20.4	There are four principal shipping routes through the region:
	a. A through route for vessels bound for the North Channel or Ports on the West Coast of the U.K. b. An offshore route to Dublin Bay. c. A coastal route to Dublin Bay and Ports between Rosslare and Dublin. d. The East/West corridors through the Banks.
3.7.20.5	Within the coastal route are a number of internal channels, the North and South Shears, the Rusk Channel, and channels between the Codling, India and Arklow Banks and the Blackwater and Lucifer Banks.
3.7.20.6	All of these routes require appropriate AtoN to safely guide the mariner. The mix of aids required is dependant on a range of factors, including size and type of vessel involved, traffic density, proximity of hazards, etc.
3.7.20.7	In assessing the AtoN requirements in this area, it should be borne in mind that, due to the prevailing Southwesterly winds, many smaller or lower powered vessels, on coastal passage, seek the shelter of the land during heavy weather from this direction, and thus pass well inside most of the off-lying sandbanks.
3.7.20.8	There is a clear requirement for the provision of suitable AtoN for the safe inshore passage around Tuskar Rock Lighthouse.
3.7.20.9	The changes proposed for this area can be summarised, as follows:

• Tuskar Lighthouse- Establish AIS AtoN
  
• Splaugh Buoy- Change characteristic to FL (2) R 6s
  
• South Long Buoy - Establish AIS AtoN. Remove whistle fog signal
  
• Calmines and South Holdens Buoy - Synchronise timing and flash characters.
  
• South Blackwater Buoy - Disestablish
  
• Southeast Blackwater Buoy - Establish superbuoy with Racon and AIS AtoN and re-position 2 cables east.
  
• Rusk No 1 & No 2. Buoy - Synchronise timing and flash characters.
  
• East Blackwater Buoy- Disestablish
  
• Arklow Lanby - Establish AIS and reposition
  
• South Arklow Buoy - Disestablish
  
• Arklow No 1 and No 2 Buoy - Disestablish
  
• North Arklow Buoy - Remove whistle fog signal
  
• Wicklow Head Lighthouse - Reduce range to 20nm if economically advantageous
  
• Codling Lanby - Establish AIS AtoN
  
• South Codling Buoy- Reposition subject to survey
  
• Bennet Bank Buoy - Reposition subject to survey
  
• North and South Burford Buoys - Establish AIS AtoN
  
• Muglins Lighthouse- Change to red light and maintain range
  
• Dun Laoghaire East and West Lighthouses- Synchronise timing and flash characters