The basic waterways management comprises the functions and operations sustaining everyday traffic, safety and the technical level of the waterways. The operations include service and maintenance of waterways, maintenance dredging, repairs and maintenance of the aids to navigation, and operation of the canals. The starting point for the maintenance of waterways is a safe fairway network meeting the logistics needs.

After the ice break-up, it is not uncommon that floating aids to navigation may be off position.
The channel keepers will usually be able to reinstate buoys and spar buoys within two weeks of the ice clearing in the area in question. During wintertime, floating aids to navigation may be submerged under the moving ice.
The safety devices have steadily increased in number alongside more stringent channel safety requirements. The outlines of a fairway area, marked on the chart, are increasingly designated by the use of buoys and spar buoys.
A buoy tender is easy to recognise by the red colouring of the lower part of the hull and by the state flag flying on the boat. When the buoy tender is ashore or at anchor next to an aid to navigation, you should give a wide berth and, in particular, you should avoid creating swell.
The larger maintenance vessels also deploy divers. In cases where the diving flag is hoisted, these vessels must not approached; neither should they be approached when they are near a maintenance site.