PADDLE SAFEwhat to dostay far away from these: if you hear or see a

ship approachingSTAY ALERT

How

to p

addl

e sa

fely

on

the

Cuya

hoga

Riv

er S

hip

Chan

nel The Cuyahoga River is beautiful.

But the ship channel, where the river flows through the center of Cleveland, is a very dangerous place to paddle.

The freighters that come through every day are huge – as tall as a building and as wide as the river. The sideways propellers that steer them make giant waves that can capsize a canoe, kayak, or board. And they can’t see you.

THINK

LOOK

LISTEN

LINK

The channel is 23 FEET DEEP, lined with STEEL WALLS, with very few places to escape or grab hold.

Be aware of your surroundings and of other vessels. Know where you are and where the nearest passing zones are.

5 SHORT BLASTS OF A HORN mean DANGER - a ship is nearby.

Use smartphone apps to see what ships are in the area.

If you have a VHF Marine Radio (and you should,) monitor VHF CHANNEL 16 at all times. Only hail a large vessel in an emergency.

• State the name of the vessel you are calling.

• If you don’t have a radio, slowly and repeatedly raise and lower outstretched arms to each side.

PORT means “LEFT.” STARBOARD means “RIGHT.”

GET OUT OF THE WAY!Do not impede a large ship’s passage. It has the right of way.

• PADDLE TO THE NEAREST PASSING ZONE - SEE MAP.

• IF YOU CAN’T REACH A PASSING ZONE, KEEP CLOSE TO THE BANK.

• NEVER CROSS IN FRONT OF A COMMERCIAL VESSEL.

• TIGHTEN YOUR LIFEJACKET, PREPARE FOR VERY ROUGH WATER, and HANG ON.

• IF SOMEONE ON THE LARGE SHIP TELLS YOU WHERE TO GO, LISTEN! and FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.

o Check the weather.

o Always wear a lifejacket.

o Have lights on your vessel and turn them on at dusk.

o Charge the batteries on your phone, vhf radio and lights.

o Tie a whistle or air horn to your lifejacket to draw attention.

o Tell someone where you are going and when you’ll return.

o Know how to reboard your vessel in deep water.

before you paddle...

look up & link up

Before you go, check ship traffic websites like boatbeacon.com or marinetraffic.com to see if ships are in the vicinity or on the way.

Use BOAT BEACON or MARINE TRAFFIC apps on your smart-phone while on the water.

Note that Information may be delayed, so ships may be closer than they appear on the app.

The most dangerous part of a big ship, where the thrusters are, is marked with one of these symbols. The propellers here can suck you in or capsize you.

If you need help or rescue, in an emergency CALL Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor 216-937-0140

Other helpful contacts:

Ohio DNR Division of Watercraft (216) 361-1212 cleveland.watercraft@dnr.state.oh.us (For registration and boat safety in-formation. Kayaks and canoes must be registered with ODNR.)

paddle.ohiodnr.gov/

YOU PADDLE THE CHANNEL AT YOUR OWN RISK. This pamphlet is only a guide. The publishers accept no liability for injury, death or damage to property.

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