There is a chain hanging down on the wall. Pull chain once. Wait to enter locks until doors are all the way open and green light is on. DO NOT MAKE ANY WAKE! When in the lock tie off on a floating tie off{don't tie on the ladder!!] Wear your PFD No smoking When doors reopen wait till doors are all the way open and proceed out of the lock with no wake until you clear the farthest lock wall. Remember commercial traffic gets the rite of way leave plenty of time if fishing a tournament.