NASBLA Public Library

This boating safety brochure provides practical risk-awareness guidance for recreational boaters operating near commercial vessel traffic on inland and coastal waterways. Developed by the American Waterways Operators Foundation, the publication outlines critical navigation safety considerations involving towboats, tugboats, barges, ships, locks, bridges, and commercial navigation channels. Topics include vessel stopping distances, restricted maneuverability, wheel wash hazards, blind spots, VHF communication procedures, whistle signals, and the dangers associated with operating near commercial tows. The brochure emphasizes operator responsibility, situational awareness, life jacket wear, sober boating practices, and safe navigation in low-visibility conditions. For Boating Law Administrators, boating educators, and marine law enforcement agencies, this resource serves as an effective public outreach and boater education tool supporting collision prevention, commercial-recreational traffic awareness, and safe shared-waterway operations. The publication is particularly useful for reinforcing safe boating behaviors in high-traffic commercial navigation corridors and multi-use waterways.