Ohio River Boating:     River Hazards   |   Operating Regulations   |   VHF Radio Use

River Hazards

Locks/Dams

"No boat" areas exist above and below locks and their accompanying dams. Waters in these areas are turbulent, unpredictable and dangerous. Keep out! Stay well clear of the dams and go directly to the locks.

To travel between pools on the Ohio, it is necessary to "lock through" the high lift locks that are operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Boaters wishing to use the locks should use the following procedure:

1. Contact the lockmaster in one of two ways:
   1. Call via VHF radio using channel 13 (NOTE: Lockmaster will not answer on 16).
   2. A pull chain is located at the end of the lock wall. Pull the chain once and wait for the lockmaster's signal.
2. Enter the lock only when you see the green light or hear the horn signal.
3. Pay attention to any instructions from the lockmaster and enter the lock at idle speed.
4. Have at least 50 feet of line ready to secure your craft to the floating mooring bits located on the lock walls. Linehandlers must be wearing a PFD (personal flotation device).
5. At the end of the raising/lowering process, wait for the lockmaster's signal to leave. Travel from the lock at idle speed and be cautious of approaching traffic.

Lockage is provided on a priority basis according to the following:

1. Government and emergency vessels
2. Commercial vessels carrying passengers
3. Commercial vessels with cargo
4. Recreational vessels

If you are required to wait, the lockmaster should be able to give an approximate time available for lockage.

Barges and Towboats

Annual commercial traffic on the Ohio River averages more than 150 million tons. Most of the cargo consists of bulk forms of energy: coal, crude oil, and petroleum products. Other major commodities transported include sand, gravel, iron and steel, chemicals, and grain.

The barges that carry this cargo are very long and have limited navigation due to their size and weight. They can't stop or turn quickly. It can take two miles for a towboat to actually halt a string of full barges. Barges are confined to a shipping lane within a channel, and recreational boaters must yield the right of way to them. The Ohio River is considered to be federal waters, and you need to comply with all U.S. Coast Guard requirements.

Take special care when operating near these vessels. Reduce your speed and allow as much room as possible. Do not waterski or ride your PWC in the path of the barges.

• Avoid anchoring in the channel. Often times pleasure boats are too small to be detected by the towboat's radar or fall within the towboat's blind spot. If a barge is empty it will be riding higher in the water, and its radar may pass right over a small boat anchored in its path.
• Commercial tow barges produce rolling waves astern and these waves can swamp or capsize your craft.
  1. Stay clear at least 1,000 feet behind these tow barges.
  2. Head the bow of your boat into the waves.
  3. Remain seated.
  4. Operate at a slow speed but be sure to maintain proper steering.
• Become familiar with the navigation lights used on towboats and their barges. There may be several hundred yards of unlit space between the bow and stern lights on a towboat and its barges.
• Know the sound signals. Pilots navigating around tight bends will use sound signals to make other boats aware of their presence. You should approach bends slowly and sound the proper signal as well.
• Barge fleeting and mooring facilities exist along the entire length of the river. Your only indication of a moored barge is a white light on the riverward side.
• Check frequently for towboats while waterskiing. They are surprisingly fast and a downed skier near a barge could be pulled under.

River Current & Water Levels

The current is ever changing and varies with water levels. High water conditions will cause strong currents and make boat operation very difficult. Special provisions take effect when operating on waters where a current is present:

• A vessel heading downstream has right of way over a vessel heading upstream.
• Recreational watercraft are sharing the river with large commercial vessels that are confined to a channel. Boaters must yield right of way to them.
• A vessel crossing a river shall keep out of the way of a powerdriven vessel ascending or descending the river.

Sailors should be aware that because of the winding nature of the river, wind direction changes often. The current also makes sailing a challenge.

Always anchor your boat with the anchor line affixed to the bow of the boat.

River levels fluctuate dramatically. Rising waters force debris from the banks into the river. During high water periods, exercise caution to avoid hitting both floating and submerged objects.