Book excerpt: The author's well established guide to the East Coast of England from Great Yarmouth to Dover and corresponding continental coasts between Calais and Den Helder has undergone major revision for this fifth edition. Throughout, the text and charts have been fully updated. Since the fourth edition there has been a continued growth in maritime commercial traffic and in the associated dangers of collision. The major event in the southern North Sea was the initiation in July 2007 of a new traffic system for the Sunk area of the Thames Estuary which includes three Traffic Separation Schemes, two Precautionary Areas, two ship anchorage areas, a 'Two-way Route' for local traffic and a recommended route for North Sea ferries. Similarly important changes have been made to the traffic schemes in the approaches to Hoek van Holland during 2008. Full details of both these developments are supported by new plans.