Historical Change in Way of Passing of the Kurushima Channel

Abstract

The Kurushima Channel, located almost in the middle of the Seto Inland Sea, is the main route for maritime traffic since the middle of the 20th century. From that time on the Kurushima Cannel, the passage used by a large ship to navigate is the middle passage and the West passage. Because the Kurushima Channel has fast tidal stream, the special rules called "Jyunnchu-Gyakusei" are applied to the way of passing. In this paper, the author describe the change of a unique and special way of passing through Kurushima Channel.