Waterway traffic signs
The signs along and above the waterway (prohibition, mandatory, restriction, recommendation and information).
Practice — name the sign
Which sign is this? Pick the correct meaning.
A. Prohibition signs
General ban on passing through (often red-white-red or two red lights).
Power-driven vessels may not navigate here.
Small craft may not navigate here.
Sailing vessels may not navigate here.
Sailboards are not allowed here.
Water-skiing is prohibited here.
Personal watercraft (jet skis) are not allowed.
Anchoring (and dragging anchors) is prohibited.
Berthing to the bank is not allowed here.
You may not take up a berth here — neither anchoring nor mooring — on the side of the waterway where the sign stands.
Turning (180°) is not allowed here.
Overtaking is prohibited here.
Do not create disruptive wash or suction.
Meeting (passing head-on) and overtaking are both prohibited here.
Rowing boats, canoes etc. (muscle-powered) may not navigate here.
Convoys (e.g. push-tows) may not overtake one another here. Single vessels are not affected.
Stay within the marked limits of the fairway; navigating outside them is prohibited.
B. Mandatory signs
You must follow the direction shown by the arrow.
Keep to the starboard (right) side of the channel.
Keep to the port (left) side of the channel.
You must cross the fairway to the indicated side (port or starboard).
Be extra vigilant here (e.g. crossing traffic).
You must stop under certain conditions.
Maintain a listening watch on the indicated VHF channel.
You must give a sound signal here (e.g. before a blind bend).
C. Restriction signs
The clear height above water is limited (in metres).
The water depth is limited (in metres).
The clear width of the passage is limited.
Do not exceed the indicated speed in km/h.
D. Recommendation signs
Recommended passage, usable in both directions.
Recommended passage; the opposite direction is closed.
E. Information signs
You may pass here (white horizontal bar on blue).
Recommended to keep to starboard (right).
You may berth here (anchor on blue).
Designated berthing area.
You may moor here (make fast to the bank), on the side where the sign stands.
A ferry crosses here; take account of it.
Drinking water is available here.
A telephone is available here (e.g. at a lock).
The waterway is a dead end (no through route).
A place to turn (180°) is available here.
Caution: an overhead power line crosses the waterway (mind your height).
Power-driven vessels are permitted here.
Small craft are permitted here.
Water-skiing is permitted here.
Sailing vessels are permitted here.
Rowing boats, canoes etc. are permitted here.
Sailboards are permitted here.
Personal watercraft (jet skis) are permitted here.
VHF channel for nautical information (e.g. channel 18).