Steering a huge ship through a narrow canal isn't exactly every navigator's dream. However, every big-time captain has to go through a narrow canal at some point in his or her life. After all, the big ports and the big paychecks are at the end of challenging waterways. That is why it pays to take note of the details that are part of the journey.

The first thing that port authorities do when they see a ship approaching is to send a scout ship ahead to check out the markings. This is because they will have to confirm radio identification in order to allow the ship to dock. They check out the nautical flag of the incoming ship so that they can easily figure out if it is a merchant ship or a passenger vessel. That way, they can allow the ship passage through a dangerous canal.

The waterway isn't what the navigator would pay attention to. He or she has to pay attention to the different support ships that would be sent to guide in the freight vessel. This is because the waters might be too shallow for the big vessel to go through unscathed. The support vessels have designated signalmen in order to signal which direction the ship should turn and at what speed. They also signal if they know that a potential hazard like a sandbank is near the course that they have plotted out. They use brightly colored blank flags to get the job done. This should ensure the safe docking of any freight ship through any narrow canal.