Safety at locks
Advice for boaters on how to pass through locks safely.
- In narrow locks, please remember some boats draw up to 1.2 metres (4 feet) or more and might not be able to manoeuvre quickly.
- When waiting for a lock, form a queue at the layby moorings as near to the lock as possible. Queue jumping is bad manners, causes bad feeling and can cause confusion and delays entering the lock.
- Once the lock is full, any remaining boats should move forward along the layby to ensure those waiting in the channel (perhaps in difficult conditions) can moor at the back of the queue.
- Obey the lock keeper's instructions. For safety and efficiency reasons they may not necessarily instruct boats to enter the lock in strict order of arrival.
- Stop your engine once your boat is moored in the lock. Turn off radios and other music or noise.
- Secure your head and stern lines around the bollards. When water is rising or falling in the lock, adjust your lines to keep them fairly taught.
- Make sure your boat does not become caught up as the lock is emptying.
- Always bring your boat to a complete standstill using reverse gear, not the ropes.
- Coil ropes ready for use. Tangled lines cause problems, especially if needed in a hurry.
- Use front and rear mooring lines.
- Never wrap a rope round any part of your body and always keep hands and fingers away from bollards or cleats.
- Do not fend off with hands, feet or boat hooks.
- Do not open fuel tanks or strike matches.
- Do not moor upstream of the vertical white line on the lock wall or your boat may be damaged.
- Be aware of bollards, steps and other tripping hazards.
- Do not run on the lock side or allow others to run.
- Keep children under close supervision.
- Take your time and pay attention while going through the lock.
- Please keep dogs on your boat, or on a lead whilst passing through the lock.
