farvands

Farvande is the Danish term for defined bodies of water used for navigation and maritime activity. In practice, farvande encompasses seas, straits, channels, bays, and other water areas that are managed for safety, commerce, fisheries, or environmental protection. The designation may apply to both national territorial waters and wider navigable areas within the Danish realm and adjacent international waters.

In Danish nautical practice, farvande are marked on charts and regulated by authorities responsible for maritime safety and hydrography. Within farvande, authorities may designate traffic separation schemes, shipping lanes, pilotage requirements, buoyage and lighthouse locations, and rules for fishing and environmental protection. The boundaries help coordinate the movement of ships, ferries, fishing vessels, and offshore installations, and they support search-and-rescue operations and compliance with international and EU law.

Examples of notable farvande in the Danish region include the Kattegat, the Øresund (Øresund strait), Skagerrak, the Great Belt and Little Belt, as well as parts of the Baltic Sea that lie within or near Danish waters. These areas are commonly referred to in nautical publications and when planning routes.

The concept is grounded in international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and is implemented domestically through Danish regulations and charting services that produce nautical charts, determine buoyage and light signals, and oversee safe navigation.