Although we don’t often think about it when we talk about sailing, river navigation signage is very common in Italy.
Its signage is different from maritime signage, so in this guide I will give you some useful insights about it.
That is why you should know it in order to have a complete understanding of everything related to boats.
General rules of river navigation
We have some rules that always apply:
- You should follow the signs that are placed on the banks but also in the riverbed;
- As a general rule, the use of an anchor is advisable only in an emergency and in any case absolutely outside the alignment routes;
- Priority should be given to those in favor of the current;
- When approaching bights, elbows and in any case of poor visibility, each unit is required to produce a 4-6 second sound to signal its presence. Any vessel present on the other side must respond. If more detailed indications are to be given, sound signals for maneuvering, overtaking or navigation in fog must be used;
- When navigating at night, it is mandatory to have a dipped-beam light on board in order to observe signs not framed by the normal lights on the hull;
- Berths are to be made against the current at all times.
Signs on banks and in riverbanks
Let’s explain the signals in the figure:
1) Call signal: indicates that you have to head toward the bank;
2) Reminding signal: indicates that you have to move away from the bank;
3) Call and remit signal: you have to head toward the bank abandon it immediately;
4) Continuation signal: you have to continue along the bank;
5) Pull over signal: one must move away from the bank and return to it immediately.
These first signals are bank signals: you can interpret the white triangle as the arrow toward which you need to direct your unit.
You should also know about bank signals:
6) Danger signal: if you spot this signal, you should sail with caution;
7) You should pass to the right of the signal if you are in favor of the current and pass to the left of the signal if you are against the current;
8) Here you must pass to the left of the signal if you are in favor of the current and to the right of the signal if you are against the current;
9) Signal present at a multi-arch bridge: the yellow rhombus indicates the safe archway under which you can pass.
How river anchoring works
To anchor in rivers, as we have said only in emergencies and out of alignment routes, one must row two anchors whose chains create a 180-degree angle between them and sink them in the direction of the current.