SW Dangerous Ground
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Dangerous Ground is a large area in the southeast part of the
South China Sea The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phil ...
characterized by many low islands and cays, sunken
reef A reef is a ridge or shoal of rock, coral or similar relatively stable material, lying beneath the surface of a natural body of water. Many reefs result from natural, abiotic processes— deposition of sand, wave erosion planing down rock out ...
s, and
atoll An atoll () is a ring-shaped island, including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon partially or completely. There may be coral islands or cays on the rim. Atolls are located in warm tropical or subtropical oceans and seas where corals can gr ...
s awash, with reefs often rising abruptly from ocean depths greater than 1000m. There are few precise definitions, but Dangerous Ground corresponds roughly to the seas around the eastern half of the Spratly Islands. It is an oblong area running southwest to northeast for about 340 nautical miles (nm) (630 km), 175 nm (324 km) at its widest, with an area of about 52,000 nm² (178,000 km2). It is west of
Palawan Palawan (), officially the Province of Palawan ( cyo, Probinsya i'ang Palawan; tl, Lalawigan ng Palawan), is an archipelagic province of the Philippines that is located in the region of Mimaropa. It is the largest province in the country in ...
island and northwest of the Palawan Passage. It lies approximately between 7.5 and 12°N, 113–117°E. The US NGA literatureetc. seems to consider its centre as . The area is poorly charted, making it exceptionally dangerous to navigate – the major Singapore-to-Hong-Kong routes go well to the westhttp://www.oceangrafix.com/chart/zoom?chart=93022 Western SCS and east of the area. The Admiralty Sailing Directions give the following warning regarding navigation in this area:
Due to the conflicting dates and accuracy of the various partial surveys of Dangerous Ground, certain shoals and reefs may appear on one chart, but not on another regardless of the scales involved.
Charted depths and their locations may present considerable error in the lesser known regions of this area. Avoidance of Dangerous Ground is the mariner’s only assurance of safety.
The water is a usually greenish-blue and is transparent to depths of on clear days.


Boundaries

The boundary of Dangerous Ground is shown on NGA charts 93044 (NW),http://www.oceangrafix.com/chart/zoom?chart=93044 NW Dangerous Ground 93045 (NE),http://www.oceangrafix.com/chart/zoom?chart=93045 NE Dangerous Ground 93046 (most of the SE),http://www.oceangrafix.com/chart/zoom?chart=93046 Most of the SE of Dangerous Ground and 93047 (SW).http://www.oceangrafix.com/chart/zoom?chart=93047 SW Dangerous Ground (The missing portion of the SE is covered by 93048 and the top corner of 92006.http://www.oceangrafix.com/chart/zoom?chart=92006 SE Spratlys, Brunei, North Borneo and Southern Philippines) The area is described in NGA Pub. 161, ''Sailing Directions (Enroute) South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand''. The navigational charts and sailing directions do not completely agree with each other as to the boundary. For example, the ''Sailing Directions'' include most of the NW area shown on Chart 93044 as outside of Dangerous ground, but exclude the Reed Bank, which is shown on Chart 93045 as inside Dangerous Ground. Both publications divide the area into four quadrants - NW, NE, SE and SW:


NW

Chart 93044 – approx. 10–12°N, 113–115°E; ''Sailing Directions'' pp8–10. *1.21 North Danger Reef – northern and western sections ** North Reef, North Pass, Northeast Cay,
Shira Islet Shira may refer to: Geography *Shira, or Sira, Karnataka, a taluk in Tumkur district, Karnataka, India *Shira, Iran, in Mazandaran Province *Shira, Nigeria *Shira, Russia, a rural locality (''selo'') in Shirinsky District, Republic of Khakassia, ...
, Middle Pass, Southwest Cay, West Pass (N),
Jenkins Patches Jenkins may refer to: People * Jenkins (name), history of the surname * List of people with surname Jenkins * The Jenkins, country music group Places United States *Jenkins, Illinois *Jenkins, Kentucky *Jenkins, Minnesota *Jenkins, Missouri *Je ...
, West Pass (S) *1.22 North Danger Reef – southern and eastern sections; Trident & Lys Shoals ** South Reef, South Pass,
Sabine Patches The Sabines (; lat, Sabini; it, Sabini, all exonyms) were an Italic people who lived in the central Apennine Mountains of the ancient Italian Peninsula, also inhabiting Latium north of the Anio before the founding of Rome. The Sabines divide ...
,
Farquharson Patches Farquharson ( or ) is a surname of Scottish origin, and may refer to: * Ashley Farquharson (born 1999), American luger * Donald Farquharson (1925–2000), Welsh-Canadian sportsman * Donald Farquharson (1834–1903), Canadian politician from Prince ...
, East Pass, Day Shoal,
Iroquois Ridge The Iroquois ( or ), officially the Haudenosaunee ( meaning "people of the longhouse"), are an Iroquoian Peoples, Iroquoian-speaking Confederation#Indigenous confederations in North America, confederacy of First Nations in Canada, First Natio ...
;
Trident Shoal A trident is a three- pronged spear. It is used for spear fishing and historically as a polearm. The trident is the weapon of Poseidon, or Neptune, the God of the Sea in classical mythology. The trident may occasionally be held by other marine ...
,
Lys Shoal Lys or LYS may refer to: Places *Les Lys, a Premier cru vineyard in Chablis *Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport, France (by IATA code) *Lys (department), a ''département'' during the First French Empire, now in Belgium *Lys (Dora Baltea), a stream of ...
*1.23 Thitu Reefs and surrounding ** Thitu Island,
Subi Reef Subi Reef, also known as Zamora Reef ( tl, Bahura ng Zamora, lit=Reef of Zamora); Zhubi Reef (Mandarin ); vi, đá Xu Bi, is a reef in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea located southwest of Philippines' Pag-asa island Thitu Island under ...
*1.24
Loaita Bank The Loaita Bank () is one of the significant maritime features in the Spratly Islands. It is about long on its NE-SW axis, and extends from Loaita Island to the NW of Dangerous Ground.Loaita Island Loaita Island also known as Kota Island ( fil, Pulo ng Kota; Mandarin , and vi, Đảo Loại Ta), with an area of -- is the tenth largest of the naturally-occurring Spratly Islands, and the fifth largest of the Philippine-occupied islands. It ...
, Lankiam Cay *1.25 & 1.26 Tizard Bank **
Namyit Island Namyit Island, also known as vi, Đảo Nam Yết; Binago Island ( tl, Pulo ng Binago, lit=Island of Changed); Mandarin , is the third-largest island on Tizard Bank in the northwest of the Spratly Islands in South China Sea. With an area of , i ...
,
Gaven Reefs The Gaven Reefs, also known in Mandarin and ; Burgos Reefs ( tl, Mga Bahura ng Burgos, lit=Reefs of Burgos); vi, Đá Ga Ven and vi, Đá Lạc, is a group of two reefs in the Tizard Bank of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. They a ...
,
Sand Cay A cay ( ), also spelled caye or key, is a small, low-elevation, sandy island on the surface of a coral reef. Cays occur in tropical environments throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, including in the Caribbean and on the Great ...
, Itu Aba Island,
Petley Reef Petley Reef ( tl, Bahura ng Juan Luna); Núi Thị Reef ( vi, Đá Núi Thị); Mandarin , is a reef on the northern part of the Tizard Bank of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The reef has been occupied by Vietnam since 1988. It is ...
, Eldad Reef *1.26 West of Tizard Bank **
Western Reef Western Reef ( vi, Đá Đền Cây Cỏ; Mandarin ) is a reef in the South China Sea, located west of Gaven Reefs in the Spratly Islands The Spratly Islands ( fil, Kapuluan ng Kalayaan; zh, c=南沙群島/南沙群岛, s=, t=, p=Nán ...
,
Discovery Great Reef Discovery Great Reef ( tl, Bahura ng Paredes); Lớn Reef ( vi, Đá Lớn); Mandarin , is a reef on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The reef has been occupied by Vietnam since 1988. It is also claimed by China (PRC), the Philippine ...
,
Discovery Small Reef Discovery may refer to: * Discovery (observation), observing or finding something unknown * Discovery (fiction), a character's learning something unknown * Discovery (law), a process in courts of law relating to evidence Discovery, The Discovery ...


NE

Chart 93045 – approx. 10–12°N, 115–117°E; ''Sailing Directions'' pp10–11. *1.27 East of Loaita Bank ** Menzies Reef, Irving Reef, West York Island *1.27 Southampton Reefs (East of Tizard Bank) **
Hopps Reef Hopps is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Frank Hopps (1894–1976), British military aviator * Harry Ryle Hopps (1869–1937), US businessman and artist *Jimmy Hopps (born 1939), US jazz drummer * John Hopps (physicist) (1939- ...
,
Livock Reef Group Captain Gerald Edward Livock (11 July 1897 – 27 January 1989) was an English officer of the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force, who served from the beginning the First World War until the end of Second, and was also an archaeolog ...
* Northern NE –
Reed Bank Reed Tablemount (also referred to as Reed Bank, Recto Bank and several other names) is a large tablemount or guyot in the South China Sea north-east of Dangerous Ground and north-east of the Spratly Islands. It covers an area of , but with depth ...
** Nares Bank, Marie Louise Bank *1.27 & 1.28 Central NE **
Jackson Atoll Jackson may refer to: People and fictional characters * Jackson (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname or given name Places Australia * Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region * Jackson North, Qu ...
, Nanshan Island, Flat Island,
Third Thomas Shoal Third Thomas Shoal, known as Banko Thomas in the Philippines, Bãi Đồng Cam in Vietnam, and 和平暗沙 in China, is a reef in the north-west of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. It is located north of Flat island, and north of Mi ...
,
Hopkins Reef Hopkins is an English, Welsh and Irish patronymic surname. The English name means "son of Hob". ''Hob'' was a diminutive of ''Robert'', itself deriving from the Germanic warrior name ''Hrod-berht'', translated as "renowned-fame". The Robert spell ...
,
Amy Douglas Amy is a female given name, sometimes short for Amanda, Amelia, Amélie, or Amita. In French, the name is spelled ''"Aimée"''. People A–E * Amy Acker (born 1976), American actress * Amy Vera Ackman, also known as Mother Giovanni (1886–19 ...
, Hirane Shoal, Hardy Reef *1.29 Eastern NE **
Sandy Shoal Sandy may refer to: People and fictional characters *Sandy (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Sandy (surname), a list of people *Sandy (singer), Brazilian singer and actress Sandy Leah Lima (born 1983) * (Sandy) ...
,
Seahorse Shoal A seahorse (also written ''sea-horse'' and ''sea horse'') is any of 46 species of small marine fish in the genus ''Hippocampus''. "Hippocampus" comes from the Ancient Greek (), itself from () meaning "horse" and () meaning "sea monster" or " ...
,
Lord Auckland Shoal Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the peerage in the United Kingdom, or are ...
, Carnatic Shoal


SE

Chart 93046 – approx. 8–10°N, 115–117°E; ''Sailing Directions'' pp11–12. *1.30 & 1.31 Eastern SE **
Half Moon Shoal Half Moon Shoal, also known as Hasa Hasa Shoal ( tl, Kulumpol ng Hasa Hasa); Mandarin , is a shoal at the eastern edge of the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. China and the Philippines have competing claims over the shoal. It is located clo ...
,
Bombay Reef Bombay Reef (, vi, đá Bông Bay) is an atoll of the Paracel Islands. In Chinese, the reef is alternatively known as "Pengbojiao" (), or "Qilianyu" (literally "7 key lago") along with six other islands close by. Geography The National Geospatia ...
,
Royal Captain Shoal Royal Captain Shoal, also known as Kanduli Shoal ( tl, Kulumpol ng Kanduli); Mandarin ; vi, Bãi Đồi Mồi, is a shoal in the South China Sea and a part of Spratly Islands. It is located in the vicinity of Northeast Investigator Shoal and Half ...
*1.32 Central SE **
Sabina Shoal Sabina Shoal, also known as Escoda Shoal ( tl, Kulumpol ng Escoda); Mandarin ; vi, Bãi Sa Bin, is an atoll in the NE of Dangerous Ground in the Spratly Islands. The Philippines puts it under the jurisdiction of Brgy. Pag-asa, Kalayaan, Palawa ...
,
Boxall Reef Boxall is a surname. Notable people with the name include: * Danny Boxall (born 1977), English footballer * Margaret Boxall, English badminton player * Michael Boxall (born 1988), New Zealand footballer * Richard Boxall (born 1961), English profess ...
, Second Thomas Shoal *1.33 & 1.34 Western SE ** Mischief Reef,
First Thomas Shoal First Thomas Shoal, also known as Bulig Shoal in the Philippines, Bãi Suối Ngà in Vietnam, and 信义礁 in China, is an uninhabited reef/atoll located south of Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea The Sout ...
,
Alicia Annie Reef Alicia may refer to: People * Alicia (given name), list of people with this name * Alisha (singer) (born 1968), US pop singer * Melinda Padovano (born 1987), a professional wrestler, known by her ring name, Alicia Places * Alicia, Bohol, Phil ...


SW

Chart 93047 – approx. 8–10°N, 113–115°E; ''Sailing Directions'' pp12–13. *1.34 & 1.35 Union Bank ** Johnson Reef,
Collins Reef Collins Reef, also known as Johnson North Reef/Johnson Reef North; vi, Đá Cô Lin; Roxas Reef ( tl, Bahura ng Roxas); Mandarin , is a Vietnamese occupied and controlled reef and the westernmost feature of Union Banks Atoll near the centre of ...
,
Sin Cowe Island Sin Cowe Island , also known as Sinh Ton Island ( vi, Đảo Sinh Tồn); Rurok Island ( tl, Pulo ng Rurok, lit=Island of Peak ); Mandarin , is an island in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. With an area of , it is the seventh largest ...
,
Whitsun Reef Whitsun Reef, also known as Whitson Reef, Whitsum Reef, and Julian Felipe Reef ( tl, Bahura ng Julian Felipe; Mandarin ; vi, Đá Ba Đầu), is a reef at the northeast extreme limit of the Union Banks in the Spratly Islands of the South China Se ...
,
Grierson Reef Grierson Reef ( tl, Pulo ng Julian Felipe); Sinh Ton Dong Island ( vi, Đảo Sinh Tồn Đông); Mandarin , is a cay on the eastern part of the Union Banks of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The island has been occupied by Vietnam s ...
,
Lansdowne Reef Lansdowne Reef ( fil, Bahura ng Pagkakaisa); Len Đao Reef ( vi, Đá Len Đao); Mandarin , is a cay on the southern part of the Union Banks of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The island has been occupied by Vietnam since 1988. It is ...
, *1.36 Central SW **
Bittern Reef Bitterns are birds belonging to the subfamily Botaurinae of the heron family Ardeidae. Bitterns tend to be shorter-necked and more secretive than other members of the family. They were called ''hæferblæte'' in Old English; the word "bittern" ...
,
Allison Reef Allison may refer to: People * Allison (given name) * Allison (surname) (includes a list of people with this name) * Eugene Allison Smith (1922-1980), American politician and farmer Companies * Allison Engine Company, American aircraft engine m ...
,
Cornwallis South Reef Cornwallis South Reef ( vi, Đá Núi Le; ), also known as Osmeña Reef ( fil, Bahura ng Osmeña), is a coral atoll reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. It covers an area of about 10 km by 5 km, and is entirely submerged at high ti ...
*1.37 ** Pearson Reef, Pigeon Reef, Commodore Reef *1.38 ** Investigator Shoal, Ardasier Reef, Ardasier Bank *1.39 **
Erica Reef Erica Reef, also known as ''Enola Reef;'' ms, Terumbu Siput, lit=Shell Reef; Gabriela Silang Reef ( tl, Bahura ng Gabriela Silang, lit=); vi, đá Én Ca; Mandarin , is located in the SW of Dangerous Ground, 24km east-northeast of Mariveles Reef ...
,
Mariveles Reef Mariveles Reef ( ms, Terumbu Mantanani, lit=; tl, Bahura ng Mariveles, lit=; vi, đá Kỳ Vân; Mandarin ), is located in the SW of Dangerous Ground in the Spratly Islands. It is slightly east of north from Swallow Reef and southeast of Ba ...
, Dallas Reef,
Barque Canada Reef Barque Canada Reef, also known as Lizzie Weber Reef, ( tl, Bahura ng Mascarado/Magsaysay); ms, Terumbu Perahu; Thuyền Chài Reef ( vi, Bãi Thuyền Chài); Mandarin , is a reef on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The reef has been ...
.


Outside of Dangerous Ground

''Sailing Directions'' pp13–15. Other parts of the Spratly Islands which are not inside Dangerous Ground include: *1.41 – 1.43 West of Dangerous Ground ** Fiery Cross Reef,
London Reefs The London Reefs are located between and ( and ) in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. The four major features within the area (Central London Reef, Cuarteron Reef, East London Reef, and West London Reef West London Reef ( tl, ...
, Spratly Island *1.44 – 1.48 South West and South of Dangerous Ground **
Amboyna Cay Amboyna Cay, also known as vi, Đảo An Bang; ms, Pulau Amboyna Kecil; Datu Kalantiaw Island ( tl, Pulo ng Datu Kalantiaw, lit=Island of Datu Kalantiaw); Mandarin , and other names, is an island of the Spratly Islands group in the South China ...
,
Southwest Bank The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...
,
Rifleman Bank A rifleman is an infantry soldier armed with a rifled long gun. Although the rifleman role had its origin with 16th century hand cannoneers and 17th century musketeers, the term originated in the 18th century with the introduction of the rif ...
, Swallow Reef


Territorial disputes

The sovereignty of many of the islands is disputed, as are economic claims.


Notes


References


Further reading

* C.S. Hutchison, V.R. Vijayan, "What are the Spratly Islands?" ''Journal of Asian Earth Sciences'' 39:371–385, 201
PDF
* David Hancox, Victor Prescott, "A Geographical Description of the Spratly Islands and an Account of Hydrographic Surveys Amongst Those Islands", ''Maritime Briefing'' (University of Durham) 1:6, 1995,
full text
{{South China Sea Territorial disputes of the Philippines Territorial disputes of China Territorial disputes of Malaysia Territorial disputes of Vietnam Territorial disputes of the Republic of China South China Sea Marginal seas of the Pacific Ocean Disputed territories in Southeast Asia * Seas of Asia