Akashi Kaikyo is one of the important places of marine traffic in Seto Naikai.
The width is about 2M with a rather strong current and there are some points where the current
direction and the traffic route are crossing. There is a big traffic with many vessels as the result of
convergence of four routes from Hanshin,Tomogashima,Harima Nada and the N of Ieshima Shoto.
And there are many fishing boats in operation since this area is a good point of boat seine fishery.
Within the channel, there is Akashi Kaikyo Traffic Route designated in Maritime Traffic Safety
Law. In that traffic route vessels must follow traffic method regulated in the same law. There is
Akashi Kaikyo Ohashi striding over the traffic route which could be a good mark from a distance.
Near the channel the depth is deep enough but in the N part relatively is shallow. Especially, from
the N side of W entrance of the channel to Higashi-Harima Ko there is a shallow area with depth of
10m or less the area expands up to the 4M from the coast