Inland Waterway Navigation Navigation Marks Shannon Navigation - In the river sections and in the lakes, the marking system used is Red to the left (port) and Black to the right (starboard), when going upstream or into bays or harbours.
Boat Handling on Inland Waterways Many of the “steering and sailing” rules which are used at sea are also used on the inland waterways, especially on lakes. - Power craft give way to sail. - Sailing craft on different tacks – port tack must give way. - Sailing craft on same tack – windward boat must give way. - Power vessels crossing – vessel with the other on his starboard (right) must give way. - When two vessels are approaching each other, bow to bow, both should steer to starboard (right) and pass each other on the port (left) side. - In a narrow channel keep to the right. - Overtaking vessel must stay clear of vessel being overtaken. When overtaking in a narrow channel, canal or river, leave the vessel being overtaken to starboard (right).
Perches (markers on a post or pole) are red, round shaped to the left, or black square shaped to the right. Marker buoys may be can-shaped or conical - the shape is not important , but pay attention to the colour. Lough Erne Navigation - Perches are semicircular in shape, flat top to port and round top to starboard when going upstream. Also, the marks are coloured red/white vertically, the red on the side of danger, white on the safe side.
Lough Corrib Navigation Going upstream from Galway to Cong, all port hand marks (buoys, perches or beacons) are black, starboard hand marks are red (perches) or white (stone beacons). This is the opposite to the usual convention.
There are also some special rules applying to inland waterways - At a bridge, vessel going upstream must give way to a vessel coming downstream. - Approach a lock slowly and give way to vessels exiting. 121
