All questions
Lock preparation

A small craft reaches a lock before a commercial vessel and both will share it. When should the small craft enter?

Short answer

Only when invited by staff, after the other vessel, even though it arrived first

Arrival order is the normal baseline, but small craft cannot demand separate locking and, when sharing, enter only when invited and after the other vessels. Revisit Lock Approach, Arrival and Invitation.

Quick check

A small craft reaches a lock before a commercial vessel and both will share it. When should the small craft enter?