Swashway

A narrow channel crossing or winding through a shoal, sandbank or area of shallow water.

A swashway is formed and altered by tidal streams and wave action and may provide a shorter passage for suitable shallow-draught craft. Depth, width and alignment can change after storms or as banks migrate.

Use requires current local and chart information, sufficient height of tide and an allowance for sea state and under-keel clearance. Breaking water, strong cross-stream flow and poor visibility can make a swashway difficult to identify or unsafe even when a predicted depth appears adequate.