Boating Skills & Seamanship Lesson 7 Inland Boating Approved by DC-E USCG AuxA, Inc

Lesson Objectives Nature and Navigation of Inland Waters Aids To Navigation (ATON) River Characteristics Waterway Maintenance Hazards & Challenges Locks & Locking Through Using River Charts

Types of Inland Waters Navigable Waterways Non-Navigable Waterways “Roads” providing transportation between 2 or more states or into the sea such as - Navigable rivers Great Lakes Intracoastal Waterway Non-Navigable Waterways Lakes and other waters entirely within one state

Inland Navigation Rules In Force on Navigable Waterways Federal equipment requirements apply Followed on All Waterways Collision avoidance Lookouts Lighting Meeting, crossing & overtaking

Inland ATONs US Aids to Navigation System – Two Regional Variations Western Rivers Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) Covered in Chapter 5 Uniform State Waterways Marking System (USWMS) Now Merged Into USATON System

Western Rivers ATONS River Bank Names Looking Downstream Right bank or right descending bank Green passing (square) & crossing (diamond) daymarks Left bank or left descending bank Red passing (triangle) & crossing (diamond) daymarks

Western Rivers ATONS Passing Daymarks Look like daymarks in Chapter 5 Mark the side of the river the channel is on You continue past the daymark Back of the daymark may signal upcoming crossing daymark

Western Rivers ATONS Crossing Daymarks Diamond shaped Green or Red (old colors) Green & white or red & white checkerboard (new colors) Signal that channel changes banks Head for the diamond on the opposite bank

Western Rivers ATONS River Buoys Continuously added, removed, or moved Do not have letters or numbers Not usually shown on river charts

Western Rivers ATONS Mile Markers Placards on daymarks or other location Distance to mouth of river in statute miles Except Ohio River - distance to headwaters Help locate position on river chart

Uniform State Waterways Marking System The following slides detail changes to the USWMS as it merged with the US ATON system. Following those slides are ones detailing USWMS pre-merger characteristics of the various aids. For most boaters these are for historical reference only

Uniform State Waterways Marking System Effective July 20, 1998, the US Coast Guard commences a five year phased-in merger of the Uniform State Waterway Marking System with the United States Aids to Navigation System. This merger eliminates distinctions between the two systems and creates safer, less confusing waterways.

Uniform State Waterways Marking System Here are the changes that occurred by Dec. 2003. USATONS regulatory markers now carry the same orange bands just above the water line and near the top as the USWMS system did. The USWMS black port side channel markers were replaced with the green markers. The meaning of a red and white vertically-striped buoy changes in the USWMS from "do not pass between the buoy and the nearest shore" to the USATONS meaning of "safewater all around."

Uniform State Waterways Marking System Continued Obstructions currently marked with the USWMS red and white vertically-striped buoy will be replaced with either a red or green channel marker, if practicable, the USATONS black and red horizontally striped isolated danger marker, or a newly created USATONS black and white vertically-striped marker to indicate not to pass between the marker and the shore. The USWMS white black-topped markers which mean "pass to north or east of buoy" and the white red-topped markers which mean "pass to south or west of buoy", will be replaced with USATONS red or green channel markers, the isolated danger mark, or the new black and white vertically-striped marker.

Uniform State Waterways Marking System Continued USATONS which made no mention of lights on mooring buoys may now incorporate white lights of various rhythms. Ownership identification on private or state aids to navigation is permitted so long as it does not change or hinder an understanding of the meaning of the aid to navigation.

Uniform State Waterways Marking System Three Types of Markers Regulatory ATONS Mooring buoys

Uniform State Waterways Marking System Regulatory Markers - Non-Lateral White signs or buoys Signs have orange borders Buoys have orange band Four types Boat exclusion Danger Controlled areas Information or directions

Uniform State Waterways Marking System Regulatory Markers Exclusion Area - Boats Keep Out Danger Information Controlled Area

Uniform State Waterways Marking System ATONs Buoys Two types Lateral markers Non-lateral markers

Uniform State Waterways Marking System Lateral Markers Show lateral edges of channel Normally occur in pairs Solid black or red (Black is being replaced by green in many areas) Numbered May have reflectors or lights Red right returning

Uniform State Waterways Marking System Non-Lateral Markers - Cardinal System Mark safe passage areas Three buoys White buoy with red stripes Do not pass between buoy and nearest shore White buoy with black top Pass to north or east White buoy with red top Pass to south or west

USWMS ATONs BLACK & RED Usually in pairs Pass between these buoys (Note: black being replaced by green) PASS TO SPECIFIED DIRECTIONS OF THESE Do not pass between buoy and nearest shore Pass to South or West Pass to North or East

Non Lateral Marks - Caution US Aid - Safe-Water Mark Spherical (ball-like) shape Indicates navigable water all around May be passed on either side DO NOT CONFUSE THESE ATONS This is a 2 click slide Make 2nd click AFTER discussing US Aid EMPHASIZE the SPHERICAL shape USWMS Cardinal Mark Do not pass between buoy and closest shore This is being changed - for now be careful

Inland Seamanship Challenges include: Changing water depths Speed of currents Flash flooding Underwater hazards Effect of high winds Anchoring Isolation

River Currents Can be quite strong Are concentrated in the channel Hinder movement upstream Aid movement downstream May run in different directions at different depths Usually flow around outside of bends

River Bends Outside Bend Inside Bend Water is deeper Current usually flows faster Inside Bend Water is shallower & shoaling may occur Current is slower Differences can cause eddies & slack water

Other River Challenges Entering a current Tows and other traffic Debris & ice Wing dams, dikes, and other devices Dredges Lowhead & High dams

Maintaining Inland Waters Responsibility of U.S. Corps of Engineers Techniques include Levees Revetments Dikes or wing dams Dredging

Dredging Lights on dredge pipelines Dredge lights and shapes Do not pass this side OK to pass this side Do not pass this side OK to pass this side PIPELINE LIGHTS 1. YELLOW 2. FLASHING 50 - 70 TIME PER MINUTE 3. 3 METERS HIGH, 10 METERS APART DREDGE LIGHTS 1. 2 GREEN PASS THIS SIDE 2. 2 RED DO NOT PASS THIS SIDE DAY SHAPES 1. 2 BLACK BALLS - DO NOT PASS THIS SIDE 2. 2 BLACK DIAMONDS - OK TO PASS GO FOR THE DIAMONDS Day Shapes Lights

Lowhead Dams Present on many rivers Most dangerous for boaters Efficient, self-operating drowning machines Escape difficult if caught in “boil” Swim under and downstream Know where they are and avoid them

Lowhead Dams

Lowhead Dams See the boil?

Lowhead Dams Looking Downstream

Lowhead Dams Same spot, a little to the right

Lowhead Dams Same spot, a little to the left

(Photo Courtesy CT DEP) Lowhead Dam Looking Downstream (Photo Courtesy CT DEP)

Lowhead Dam Unsuspecting kayaker caught Result: Fatal Kayak (Photo Courtesy CT DEP)

Lowhead Dam Looking Upstream (Photo Courtesy CT DEP)

High Dams Stay Out of Restricted Areas Dam Gates Marked by signs, buoys and/or flashing lights Upstream - strong undertows Downstream - tailrace Boils & backwash Dam Gates Wicket v. Tainter

Locks Operation Priorities for Use Commercial Traffic Hazardous Cargo Communications

Lock Operation 1999 PAF&BC

Lock Operation

Lock Operation Upstream lock door RISES from floor

Lock Operation Downstream doors swing or lift Watch for air BLAST as it opens

Locking Through Do Not Enter Without Appropriate Signal Green light or prolonged blast Follow Commands of Lockmaster No Wake! Wear PFD Tie-Up to Appropriate Fitting Tend Lines Carefully

River Charts Sources Characteristics NOAA (some) U.S. Corp of Engineers (most) Characteristics NOAA - essentially the same as coastal charts

River Charts Characteristics - Non-NOAA Charts Many show limited information Principal geographic features Channel & sailing line Fixed ATONs Mile markers Navigation lights sometimes shown Water depths and buoys rarely shown

River Charts Study River Charts Beforehand Symbols may be different than those on coastal charts North is rarely “up” Note downstream direction

Non NOAA River Chart

NOAA River Chart Portion of NOAA Chart 12375 - CT River

Commercial Traffic Ocean-Going v. River Tows Watch Out For The Tow Beware: Ocean-going tows can be found on many rivers, especially near the mouth Watch Out For The Tow Keep clear Prop wash Blind spot VHF Communication

Summary Inland Waters Western River ATON, USWMS Inland Seamanship River Characteristics River Maintenance Low and High Dams Locks River Charts Commercial Traffic SHOW TAPE - 17 MINUTES “IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED” RIVER TRIP WITH A TRAGIC ENDING TRIP PLANNING WEATHER FLOAT PLANS BOAT / PEOPLE STABILITY EQUIPMENT PFD’S BOATERS HYPNOSIS EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL