Locking Through:  Safety is the prime consideration when locking any type of vessel through a lock. Operators must require all passengers to wear a coast guard approved life jacket. As you approach a lock on the Tenn-Tom, you must inform the lock operators of your desire to pass and they, in turn, will indicate to you when it is safe to proceed into the lock. There are several methods of communication with the lock personnel, as follows.

• Radio:  Is the preferred method of making contact with the lock on the Tenn-Tom. If your vessel is equipped with a two-way radio, please establish contact with the lock on VHF (FM) Channel 16. The lock will then move you to their working channel. Do this well in advance of your arrival at the lock so that the passage of all vessels may be facilitated, and allow the operator time to prepare the lock.

• Cell Phone: Cell phones may be used to contact the lock when within sight of the lock. Please keep in mind lock operators are very busy and are not always able to answer the phone.

• Pull Ropes: Pull ropes which sound an alarm letting the lock operator know that you desire lockage, are provided at the upstream and downstream ends of the lock guide wall.                                                                                                        

• Once you have made contact with lock personnel you will be instructed by traffic lights, air horn signals, and/or marine radio.

• Light Signals: Red and green signal lights are located at both ends of the lock. A red signal indicates that the lock is closed in your direction and you should wait for the lock operator to give you the green light before you proceed into the lock. The green signal means that you have been cleared to enter the lock chamber, unless you have been informed by the lock operator that you are required to yield to a commercial vessel. Proceed only when the signal light is green and enter the lock at a slow NO WAKE speed. The lock personnel will direct you toward one of the lock walls. You are required to catch and tend a line on one of the floating mooring bits.

• Air Horn Signals: Vessels desiring passage through a lock shall notify the lock operator by three long and distinct blasts of a horn, whistle, or megaphone, when within a reasonable distance from the lock. When the lock is ready for entrance, the lockmaster shall reply with three long blasts of a horn, whistle or calls through a megaphone. When the lock is not ready for entrance, the lock operator shall reply by four or more short distinct blasts of a horn, whistle, or call through a megaphone (danger signal). Permission to leave the lock shall be indicated by the lock operator by one long blast.

  Obey all the instructions of the lock personnel. Your total time in the lock will be approximately 45 minutes. The pool in the lock chamber will be raised or lowered 84 to 25 feet depending on which lock you are in on the Tenn-Tom. When the pool reaches the proper level, the gates will be opened for your departure. Please wait for the operator's signal to release your line and exit the lock at a slow NO WAKE speed.

  Locking Times: Lockages for pleasure crafts will be conducted on a scheduled basis during the weekend and federal holidays at all locks on the Tenn-Tom except Howell Heflin Lock. Weekday lockages will not be affected. Transit R/V traffic traveling the waterway will not be affected. Pleasure crafts may be locked through with transiting crafts at the lock operator’s discretion.

  LOCKAGE SCHEDULES FOR PLEASURE CRAFT ON AFFECTED DAYS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

  Howell Heflin Lock - On Request                  

   Jamie Whitten Lock, John Rankin Lock, John C. Stennis Lock, and Tom Bevill Lock schedule is even hours 6:00 A.M., 8:00 A.M., 10:00 A.M., 1200 P.M., 2:00 P.M., 4:00 P.M, 6:00 P.M., and  8:00 P.M...

  G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Lock, Fulton Lock, and Amory Lock, schedule is odd hours 5:00 A.M., 7:00 A.M., 9:00 A.M., 11:00 A.M., 1:00 P.M., 3:00P.M., 5:00 P.M., and 7:00 P.M.

   

  *NOTE* These schedules are only for weekend and federal holidays and will not affect transit traffic.*

   

  Navigating the Channel:  Stay between red and green buoys. They mark the river’s navigational channel. The Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway is 234 miles long and has 10 locks along the waterway. Its navigation channel is at least 280-300 feet wide at all points, and a minimum depth of 9 feet. All lock chambers are 110 feet wide by 600 feet long with depth over the sills of 15 feet minimum.

   

  Tennessee-Tombigbee Contact Information

  Tennessee-Tombigbee Management Center: (662) 327-2142

  Jamie Whitten Lock: (662) 454-7977

  G.V. Sonny Montgomery Lock: (662) 585-3915

  John Rankin Lock: (662) 585-3080

  Fulton Lock: (662) 862-7431

  Glover Wilkins Lock: (662) 651-4966

  Amory Lock: (662) 256-4051

  Aberdeen Lock: (662) 369-7966

  John C. Stennis Lock: (662) 328-7075

  Tom Bevill Lock: (205) 373-2942

  Howell Heflin Lock (205) 652-9258