Riverboat whistle signals

Meeting a boat on the one whistle I am pretty sure is on the port - port side, and the two whistle is on the starboard - starboard side. I think this is mainly so towboats know what area of the river to run in while meeting in a bend... ect.

If one of the captains gets on the forum... they can confirm your question... as I am not a certified pilot. 🙂

Nick is right. These are old-time terms that began when the whistles were actually sounded when boats met; one whistle for a port-to-port passing, two whistles for a starboard-to-starboard passing. With the advent of radio communication, the old terms stayed and are now used on the radio -- "I'll see you on the one".

Probably the hardest thing for some people to understand is the overtaking situation. Say I am faster than you are. I ask to pass you. I am the "burdened" vessel -- that is, the burden is on me to stay out of your way, since you are slower. You say "Come by me on two", which is MY two, since I am the burdened vessel. So, I come by you on two whistles, leaving you on my starboard side, just as if I met you on two, I would leave you on my starboard side.

Hope this answers your question!

This is, by the way, not just a towboat thing, but applies to ANY boat on the water! It applies from the smallest canoe to the largest ship, and everything in between.

Bob,

What strikes me as curious is, although whistle signals are rarely blown these days, but should an accident happen, the very first question the CG investigators ask is: "Did you sound the proper whistle signals."

Thanks. The point of clarification came when you referred to the other vessel and its starboard or port side. However, below I have included 2 situations, one published in the USAWaterways.com and the other on another site, which confuse me (in the light of the last explanation).

"One whistle" or "see you on one" - this refers to whistle/horn signals. Let's say you are approaching a barge that is still a distance away and you want to go into a cove to your port. You could hail the barge on the VHF and tell him "Two whistles." That lets the barge know you want to go to the side of the river with the cove on it.

What bothers me about this is the port is on the left of the vessel 'making the statement' (that would be the starboard of an oncoming vessel, or the port of a vessel if you were approaching from the rear). In either case, two whistles should apply to the starboard side of one or the other of the vessels. In this case, it would have to the vessel you are approaching head on. But shouldn't the instruction be something different than...." I plan to make a left turn in front of you ...."?

Below is the second example that confuses me:

" An up-river tow, ready to enter the lock, called to ask us (proceeding downstream) to pass him on a two-whistle - that is, to his port - so our diminutive wake would not push him against the bank"

I don't understand this one at all.

Thanks for the help.

Allow me to try: On a two-lane highway in the United States drivers meet each other on the one whistle side. In England they meet on the two whistle side. In order to pass a car in the United States the overtaking car will pass on the two whistle side. Think American two lane highways for passing and meeting rules on the water.

Alan Bates wrote: Allow me to try: On a two-lane highway in the United States drivers meet each other on the one whistle side. In England they meet on the two whistle side. In order to pass a car in the United States the overtaking car will pass on the two whistle side. Think American two lane highways for passing and meeting rules on the water.

I like that analogy. However, does that address the point of confusion I enumerated in my previous message? If it did, I missed it.

Polaris, If I understand you correctly, you want to turn left in front of a tow to go in a cove. You say (or blow), "see you on two". You will be turning to your port side. You will leave the tow on your starboard side. When he gets to you, you will be in the cove already. You are on his straboard (two whistle) side when he comes by. Two whistles. I'm not sure I understand your confusion.

By the way,the preferred term for calling a vessel would be the upBOUND or downBOUND tow at such and such, vs the upRIVER tow. You will never meet of overtake a BARGE unless it is adrift, in which case you should notify someone there is a problem. You will be dealing with TOWS or other vessels.

Bob Reynolds wrote: Polaris, If I understand you correctly, you want to turn left in front of a tow to go in a cove. You say (or blow), "see you on two". You will be turning to your port side. You will leave the tow on your starboard side. When he gets to you, you will be in the cove already. You are on his straboard (two whistle) side when he comes by. Two whistles. I'm not sure I understand your confusion.

By the way,the preferred term for calling a vessel would be the upBOUND or downBOUND tow at such and such, vs the upRIVER tow. You will never meet of overtake a BARGE unless it is adrift, in which case you should notify someone there is a problem. You will be dealing with TOWS or other vessels.

I am sorry I didn't make myself clear. The two examples were pulled from sources I found on the net; they were not of my making. I posted them to illustrate my confusion with what I found in terms of what I thought I understood.

I understand the two-toot starboard and one-toot port. What I didn;t understand was what I read about the boat entering the lock, and why I when if I wanted to turn to the left in a cove (as explained in the example that I didn't provide), in front of a vessel approaching me, that I should tell that vessel "two whistles".

Remember that these are not my words, but what someone else advised what should be done in this situation. I would have let the vessel pass and turned to port after the approaching vessel passed to be perfectly safe.

My personal concern is that I will be cruising on the Mississippi, Illinois and Ohio in about a month and I was looking for a site with some guidelines for this type of communication. As yet, I have found none, except the one reference @ USAWaterways.com.

Any suggestions?

Boats running toward each other "meet". Boats running in the same direction "pass." A boat overtaking another will "pass" that boat. If two boats meet each other as on an American two-lane highway they will take the one whistle side.

The best suggestion is: stay away from the towboats and their tows. If you are in a pleasure boat they will not expect you to sound signals anyway. They will not hear your horn owing to the noises on their own boat. If on the radio, use plain English and be courteous. The pilots will respond in kind. Make your intentions plain by doing positive changes of direction or by staying well clear of the tow in every event. You sound two blasts to indicate you intend to go to your port. You sound one blast if you intend to go to your starboard.

Polaris6: The U.S. Power Squadron and your local Coast Guard/ Coast Guard Auxilliary offices have some real fine, easy to understand literature on river boating. All free !!! Also the Army Corps of Engineers have very good booklets on rivers and locking. Your getting good advice on this site, as a new poster you probably do not know Bates or Reynolds, but each holds Western River Masters license. They truly know of what they speak.

Steam Whistles

To me the sound of the steam whistle and steam calliope are the most exciting aspects of authentic steam paddlewheelers. It is what sparked my interest in paddlewheel riverboats in the first place, as they are one of the few places you can still find steam whistles in regular use.

Sadly, too few people nowadays really know the difference between a real steam whistle and an air horn. Gaylord Entertainment was even unaware that the 3 bell chime Kahlenberg on their General Jackson was really a steam whistle, simply because it was blown on air.

If you are interested in steam whistles and their design, I invite you to join my group. That's what our group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/steam-whistles is all about.

I have a new name now. George George. Apparently the username Polaris6 was not acceptable.

I really appreciate all the information you all have provide me. For your information, I am and have been a member of the US Power Squadron since 1967. I know and understand the current sound signals specified by the Nav Rules. I am aware that the 'whistle' signals are, more often than not actually used as such, but are referred to in conversation communication (jargon) on the VHF, especally on the Rivers.

What I didn't understand was the guidelines for the use of that jargon. I was looking for a description of how it is used (and it is still used) and the conditions under which it was used, since, I will be cruising in that area in about a month.

I offered two examples of 'explanations' of how this form of communication was/is used, about which I was confused, especially the second example which refers to a two-whistle pass on the port side. Each of these examples are direct quotes for the source from which I found them.

Thank you all for your help. but I still have not found a place where I can read about this jargon convention.

I think you've just read more here than is written anywhere else on the subject. It isn't a particularly scholarly topic and is really pretty simple, as the various licensed personnel have posted. Just remember: The number of whistles relates to the passing(one doing the overtaking) or turning vessel's side. If you are passing something on YOUR starboard side, its port side, that's TWO whistles. When you get up here and are navigating, use common sense and the licensed pilots' radioed request - don't get hung up on finding something in a book. And as to signalling other pleasure craft, forget it. Most don't have a clue. When you contact the commercial traffic on Ch. 13, sometimes they will tell you to stay close to the reds (red buoys) for instance, rather than dealing with whistles. Just follow the lead of what Bob and others out there are saying via the radio. Remember Ch. 13 for navigation and Ch. 14 to reach locks and bridges. How you sound on the radio won't impress the commercial mariners. Staying out of their way and out of a "five-whistle" situation will!

Jargon? Just don't use any deep-sea stuff you might have heard on TV or from out in Hollywood town. The first time the P.A. DENNY was brought down to New Orleans, the crew of excellent mariners were all ocean sailors, and the towboats refused to answer their radio calls, so I had to make all the transmissions until these boys developed their own "towboat voice". Then they talked right along like everyone else.

Talk slowly and get some "country" into the way you say things, but never be condescending, as those "ole boys" you're jawing with know more about boatin' and the river then you'd ever care to understand. Like Cap'n Alan said, stay out of the big fellers way, pay attention, keep abreast of where you are on the river charts, and listen to how the radio traffic sounds and try to develop a style of "jargon" that will let you fit in and won't brand you as an outsider or greenhorn. Learn a few terms like "hooked-up", "runnin' light boat", and know what a pilot means when he says, "Don't make me no difference; I'll go either way." You might casually sprinkle some of these, and other terms you learn, into your speech, and folks'll think you've been on the river all your life.

This is good advice, George George. I apologize for not realizing at first what you were asking. LISTEN to the way pilots talk to each other...you are not talking to Mission Control in Houston. In ref to Sam's post: "hooked up" means running full ahead, running "light boat" means no tow. Even though can bouys have been green for about 30 years, we still call them "blacks". Know what a dike is (a wing dam). Watch your wake, especially around a shipyard/drydock. If a boat/tow pilot tells you to get close to the bouys, get CLOSE to them, like 5 to 10 feet wide off them! These bouys are not set in the shallow water just outside the channel like they are in coastal areas; they're set in water that is at least as deep as the prevailing area conditions -- you will usually never see a bouy in lees than 12 or 15 feet of water, so if they tell you to get on the bouys, get on 'em! Don't worry about channel 16 so much as channel 13 VHF. That's where your traffic business will be conducted. When you get to the Baton Rouge area, you go to channel 67 from there on out.

The folks you will be dealing with are fine guys who are pros. They will help you in any way, but many (most) are very wary of pleasure boaters as we have seen so many really dumb, stupid things done by them. I'm not saying you fall into this category, but this is why you might not get the type of response you imagined in the beginning. Just be a regular person, and do what the pros tell you, and you'll be fine.

Thank you all once again. This has been good advice. I realize that cruising on the Big Rivers can be challenging and I want to do everything I can to do it safely. Thank you all for your guidance.

I an in Canada now and will be in Lake Michigan in about 3 weeks and in Chicago right after Labor Day.

Safe boating to all of you who have cared enough to respond.

george malindzak

We use whistles all the time on the Cumberland 🙂

Can't say much about other rivers. The Ingram tows on Cheatham and Old Hickory use whistle signals a lot. In fact down near Old Hickory Dam on a crowded weekend afternoon, the tows will be sounding signals every few minutes. Of course, many people don't have the faintest idea why they are blowing their horns.

The Queens blow their whistles for show, and I've never had one either answer a whistle call from the horn or the radio. They remind me of the ocean going freighter we crossed about 200 miles out in the Gulf in May. We hailed him on the radio and asked him what his intentions were. His answer came back, "To steer a course of 150 degrees." LOL. "OK," we replied, "One whistle back to you."

I gave that example in USAwaterways.com because in most situations, the passings are fairly obvious. However, if you want to cross the river, for one reason (to go into a cove or marina on the other side), the passing will not be obvious at all.

polaris6;952 wrote: I would like a reference to read about the riverboat whistle conventions. I understand the Inland Rules, but I don't really understand the 'on the one whistle', 'on the two whistle', etc. I have read several abbreviated accounts but I can never discern when reference to 'approaching a vessel', whether the approach is head on, or overtaking.

Can anybody try to straighten me out?

1 whistle in a meeting (head -on) situation is port to port
2 whistles in a meeting situation (head-on) is starboard to starboard

when overtaking another vessel 1 whistle means that the vessel that is doing the overtaking is intending to pass by the other vessel's starboard side.The quote in the book is "I intend to leave you on my own port side" therefore the faster boat will be catching the slower boat and the faster boat's port side will pass the slower boat's starboard side. Clear as Mississippi mud?

polaris6;952 wrote: I would like a reference to read about the riverboat whistle conventions. I understand the Inland Rules, but I don't really understand the 'on the one whistle', 'on the two whistle', etc. I have read several abbreviated accounts but I can never discern when reference to 'approaching a vessel', whether the approach is head on, or overtaking.

Can anybody try to straighten me out?

Passing on the "one whistle" simply means port to port. The "two whistle" would be starboard to starboard. Hope this helps!

One can purchase the Navigation Rules, International-Inland via the Government Printing Office @ U.S. Government Printing Office Home Page. Go to Bookstore. COMDTINSTM16672.2D. Pay with plastic money. Other sources sell a reprint...as the Government version is not copywrited.

The River School in Memphis sells a bound volume of the Navigation Rules with explanations of court cases concerning the use of the Rules or lack thereof. I believe River School has a website if interested.

One can download and print-off a copy of the Rules from the gpo site---takes a bit of link following I do believe.

Meeting-Overtaking & Crossing Situations

Greetings From New Orleans ,
There has been quite a bit of very informative and descriptive information given out on this subject and to hopfully better illustrate these different
" Meeting-Overtaking & Crossing Situations " , I have put together a few pictures that just may make it a bit more clear when we as professional and licensed navigators refer to Meeting or Overtaking on either the " One Whistle " or for that matter the " Two Whistle " side . In the first picture two ships are in a Meeting Situatin , just above the I-10 Bridge in the Baton Rouge harbor , on the " Two Whistle " side , which is simply a starb'd to starb'd side meeting , just like cars on a street meet . In the second picture , a ship and a tow boat are meeting just below the Sunshine Bridge , on the
" One Whistle " side , which is simply a port to port Meeting Situation . In the third picture , two ships are in an Over Taking Situation , where the ship that is astern or behind the ship that I am piloting is in the process of overtaking me on his port side , or on his " One Whistle " side . Now if we had agreed for him to overtake me on his right or starb'd side , it would have been a " Two
Whistle " , Overtaking Situation . Hope this just may clear up and better explain the termenalogy of the one and two Whistle Signals that we use when navigating America's inland waters .
Smoothe Sailing !
Ted Davisson

polaris6;952 wrote: I would like a reference to read about the riverboat whistle conventions. I understand the Inland Rules, but I don't really understand the 'on the one whistle', 'on the two whistle', etc. I have read several abbreviated accounts but I can never discern when reference to 'approaching a vessel', whether the approach is head on, or overtaking.

Can anybody try to straighten me out?

" Crossing Situations "

Greetings From New Orleans ,
One other situation that vessels that work the Inland Waters and Rivers find themselves in , is " Crossing Siutations " . A prime example of this is when ferry boats cross the river from one side to the other and of course meet traffic that is either coming up or going down the river . There are other situations , where ships and tows will also cross the river to take advantage of the slack water in order to make better time . Regardless , of the type of vessel that is making a Crossing and is also in the process of meeting traffic , it is generally agreed that the Crossing Vessel will first ask permission to make the crossing . In the first picture , a Navy " Foot Ferry " , has just completed a " Crossing Situation " , just ahead of the ship that I was piloting . Also , in this situation , this is considered a " One Whistle " crossing because , the Navy , " Foot Ferry " , crossed ahead of me on his left or Port Side . Futhermore , if the same Navy , " Foot Ferry " , had crossed in the other direction from the left to the right and had left me on his Starb'd or right side , now that would have been considered a " Two Whistle " , Crossing Situation . ALso , " Foot Ferries " can be any type of ferry boat that caters to only pedestrians and no vehicles are allowed . Hope this may also better explain and illustrate the use and meanings of the " Whistle Signals " that we use when navigating the rivers .
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Ted Davisson;16018 wrote: Greetings From New Orleans ,
There has been quite a bit of very informative and descriptive information given out on this subject and to hopfully better illustrate these different
" Meeting-Overtaking & Crossing Situations " , I have put together a few pictures that just may make it a bit more clear when we as professional and licensed navigators refer to Meeting or Overtaking on either the " One Whistle " or for that matter the " Two Whistle " side . In the first picture two ships are in a Meeting Situatin , just above the I-10 Bridge in the Baton Rouge harbor , on the " Two Whistle " side , which is simply a starb'd to starb'd side meeting , just like cars on a street meet . In the second picture , a ship and a tow boat are meeting just below the Sunshine Bridge , on the
" One Whistle " side , which is simply a port to port Meeting Situation . In the third picture , two ships are in an Over Taking Situation , where the ship that is astern or behind the ship that I am piloting is in the process of overtaking me on his port side , or on his " One Whistle " side . Now if we had agreed for him to overtake me on his right or starb'd side , it would have been a " Two
Whistle " , Overtaking Situation . Hope this just may clear up and better explain the termenalogy of the one and two Whistle Signals that we use when navigating America's inland waters .
Smoothe Sailing !
Ted Davisson