BASIC RULES 1 As a general rule, keep right, as on the French roads, unless otherwise indicated. 2 Merchant vessels always have right of way over pleasure craft. 3 Craft should only cross where there is room to do so. The craft sailing upstream must give way to the craft sailing downstream. 4 Overtake only if there is no risk. The overtaken craft should slow down. Overtake on the left where the rule is to keep right. 5 Obey all signs and speed limits. 6 Craft must show lights at night and in fog. 7 Beware of currents and eddies near bridge supports. Sail through the arch indicated by the sign. 8 It is advisable to postpone your departure if the river is in spate. 9 All persons on board must wear lifejackets when sailing (don't forget to adjust the size for children).
OBEY THE SPEED LIMITES The speed limits in each sector are regulated by specific policing rules (ministerial order of 20/12/74 and prefectoral order of 10/05/02). However, temporary speed limits can be introduced on any section of waterway because of construction works or for safety reasons, in which case sailors should comply with the notices to mariners, the signs erected and instructions issued by waterway authority employees. This page shows the general speed limits for pleasure craft of under 20 tonnes. IMPORTANT! The speed limits are different for commercial shipping and pleasure craft of over 20 tonnes. RIVER/CANAL YONNE SPEED LIMIT 15 kph SEINE - Upstream from Montereau 15 kph - Between Montereau and the Port à l'anglais lock 20 kph - Between the Port à l'anglais lock and Pont de Sèvres 18 kph - Downstream from Pont de Sèvres 20 kph - Between kilometre posts 233.000 and 242.000 in Rouen 18 kph MARNE 15 kph OISE - Between kilometre posts 8.000 and 10.000 AISNE Through Soissons 15 kph 6 kph 15 kkph by day 4 kph at night 5 kph Canal de l'oise à l'aisne, Canal Latéral à l'aisne, Canal des Ardennes, Canal de l'aisne à la Marne, Canal Latéral à la Marne and Canal du Loing 8 kph by day 4 kph at night Canal de Saint-Quentin, Canal Latéral à l'oise, Canal de la Sambre à l'oise, Canal du Nord and Canal de la Somme 10 kph
MOORING AND BERTHING PERMITTED NOT INTERDIT PERMITTED MOORING Use a stake firmly driven into the bank. Do not attach the cable or rope across the towpath. Do not stop the engine until the craft is properly secured. The mooring must give the craft sufficient play to cope with variations in the water level. BERTHING In the fairway. Under bridges MOORING To trees, posts or fences or wherever signposted as not permitted. Position a support stanchion to prevent any impact by the hull against the bank, especially when berthing overnight.
LOCK TIMES AND OPERATIONS LOCK OPERATION Lock keepers are responsible for lock manoeuvres. If the lock is automatic, users are responsible for the manoeuvre; they are given an explanatory notice at the previous lock. For safety reasons, it is vital to obey the specific instructions and signalling lights, particularly when going through a series of automated locks. NAVIGATION BLOCKING AND RESTRICTIONS Every year, waterways are closed for maintenance work. You must obtain prior information about these closures, known as «chômages», by consulting the notices to mariners at the Seine navigation department, certain locks and on VNF's Web site (www.vnf.fr). LOCK OPENING On most of the network, locks are open for sailing throughout the year except for 1st January, Easter Sunday, 1st May, 14th July, 11th November and 25th December. For information on lock opening conditions on the other rivers and canals in the Seine basin, see Inland navigation notice to mariners No. 1 available from the Seine navigation department: Service gestion de la voie d eau 24 quai d'austerlitz, 75013 Paris Tel: 01 44 06 19 51 E-mail: sgve.sn-seine@equipement.gouv.fr The information Inland navigation notice to mariners N.1 is also available on the Seine navigation department's site http://www.equipement.gouv.fr/sn-seine. 1) A specific charge is payable for crossing locks outside normal opening hours. Requests must be made to the Sondages Régulation subdivision (tel: 01 30 22 45 00).
PRESENTATION OF WATERWAY STRUCTURES GOING THROUGH A LOCK 1/ Approaching the lock If the gates are closed, keep far enough away to avoid the eddies created by the chamber filling up or emptying. Allow any craft to exit from the lock. Before moving forward, wait until the gates are opened and the signal (if any) is given. 1 2 2/ Entering the lock Follow the lock keeper's instructions. Basic rules: - check that your lines are long enough to cope with any variations in the water level, - ensure that the operation is supervised. 3a APPROACHING A WEIR The weir has a lock or a gate. Keep to the bank on the lock side. Never approach the weir. If your craft accidentally approaches the weir, turn round quickly to go back upriver. Do not try to approach the lock by going along the weir. 3/ Inside the lock Do not tie up to a barge. Tie up to a bollard (or mooring post). Do not use the engine Note: In the vicinity of ladders, slippery stairways and the lock sill floor: do not moor near the gates (risk of grounding). Use floating fenders to protect the hull of your craft. If the lock walls are inclined, use your boat hook to push yourself away as the level falls. 4/ Exiting the lock Do not loosen the moorings until the end of the lock cycle. Exit the lock in an orderly fashion according to the positions of the craft. 3b 3c 3d 4
PRESENTATION OF WATERWAY STRUCTURES - AREAS WHERE WATER SPORTS ARE PERMITTED DIFFERENT FORMS OF LOCK 1/ Automated locks Do not hook onto the overhead pole. Do not moor under the electronic detector. Where there is a chain of automated locks, it is essential to cross through them without stopping otherwise you will block the automatic system. 2/ Other locks Other locks can be operated by: - the lock keeper, - the lock keeper assisted by the sailor, - the sailor only. LOCK GATES Lock gates must be operated solely by employees of the waterway authority. TUNNELS Go through with all sailing lights on and without anchoring or berthing. AREAS WHERE WATER SPORTS ARE PERMITTED Rowing, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing and yachting are permitted on stretches of water reserved and authorised for each sport under specific rules. These stretches are marked by signs positioned at each end. To take part in these activities, we recommend that you contact the relevant clubs. You can obtain their contact details from the sporting federations listed at the end of this guide. Generally speaking, yachting is not permitted on canalised rivers and canals. The authorised basins and water stretches in the Seine basin are listed on page Zones autorisées à la pratique d un sport nautique. Upstream Downstream Summit level Chain of locks Follow the instructions; in particular, do not let go of the handle before locking the anti-reverse safety catch
SOME RULES OF CONDUCT 1 Act courteously towards other users (anglers, sailors, waterway authority employees, riverbank residents, etc). 2 Don't throw anything into the water or leave anything on the banks. Take your litter with you or put it in the bins provided. 3 Don't damage the banks. 4 Don't forget that noise carries a long way on water. 5 Treat riverbank property with respect. 6 Take care not to damage local flora and fauna. 7 Slow down if you come across rowing boats, canoes, kayaks, etc. 8 On motor boating lakes, beware of skiers who have fallen into the water! 9 Obey the speed limits. 10 Do not race into a lock pool so that you can go through on your own. 11 Warn the lock keeper if a boat is coming up behind you (single locking).
PLEASURE BOATING REGULATIONS Below is a list of the regulations that you should consult. They set out the policing and sailing rules that must be followed on the waterways network.they apply to all users. 1 GENERAL POLICING RULES The general policing rules are set out in Decree No. 73-912 of 21st September 1973, as amended (brochure No. 1065 in the Official Journal). 2 SPECIFIC POLICING RULES The specific policing rules for sailing on national canals, rivers, waterways and stretches of water are set out in orders dated 20th September 1974 (fascicule No. 75-5bis in the Official Journal) and 10 th may 2002. The specific policing rules for the City of Paris river network are set out in an order dated 22nd November 1993. 3 BOAT HANDLING RULES See fascicule 1630-1 in the Official Journal or on the Internet at www.equipement.gouv.fr/sn-seine. 4 CALENDAR OF CLOSURES An order is issued each year according to the work programmed on constructions and requiring closures or sailing restrictions (published in the Official Journal at the start of the year). Documents 1, 2, 3 and 4 can be consulted at the offices of the Direction des Journaux Officiels at 26 rue Desaix, 75015 Paris. Tel: 01 40 58 79 79.You can also order them by fax on 01 45 79 17 84 and on the Internet at www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr. 5 SPECIFIC PLEASURE CRAFT POLICING RULES Ministerial and prefectorial orders define, among other things, the conditions for taking part in water sports (cf. the section on water sports). 6 INLAND NAVIGATION NOTICES TO MARINERS (first issue published at the start of the year) Temporary requirements modifying sailing conditions for the medium term are set out in the year's first issue of the notices to mariners and on a case-by-case basis in subsequent issues. You may consult documents 5 and 6 at subdivisions of the Seine navigation department. See contact details in the sections on each basin.