Vessel size restrictions

French channels

• Maximum dimensions for all routes to South France:
• In 1879, Charles de Freycinet standardized the canal locks to be 40m in length and 5.2m wide
  • BOA 5.00m
    • as decreted by Charles de Freycinet 5.05m
  • LOA 38.5 (Canal du Midi 30m)
  • Draft 1.80m
    • The recommended draft is 1.3m for traveling on almost any canal in France.
    • The water draft on most of the French canals is listed at 1.8m, but on less circulated canals due to sedimentation this wont be the case anymore
  • Airdraft 2.7m
    • A boat with an airdraft of less than 2.7m can go anywhere in France. This Limit is for The Capestang bridge of the Canal du Midi. See picture for details.
    • With an airdraft of 3.1m a boat can go almost anyhere in France with a phew exception like "The Capestang Bridge" on "Canal du Midi"(See above)
    • Most of the bridges on French canals are 3.45m or higher

• Links
  • Some routes with their limitations: [1]
  • source: Picaro
  • fluviacarte [2]

Panama channel

• Air draught 60m (200 feet) Bridge of America at Pacific end of channel

source: ?

Suez channel

• Air draught 70m (230 feet) Mubarak bridge

source: ?