Navigation on inland waterways, such as rivers, canals, fairways via reservoirs and lakes is performed under conditions of a minimum under the keel clearance, hydrodynamic interaction between the ship's hull and underwater limits of the fairway, and the impact of irregular currents. Piloting a ship difficult navigational conditions requires the navigator to monitor continuously the ship’s motion, assess quickly the situation and develop optimal decision for ship handling, have sufficient navigational experience and a large amount of practical knowledge. To achieve a high level of qualification, the training of navigators is carried out in several ways at once - general and particular pilotage, organization of navigation safety and the theoretical foundations of ship handling. Lack of theoretical or practical knowledge can lead to wrong assessment of navigation situation and therefore be considered as factor limiting passage of vessel and navigational safety. The article contains analysis of inland waterways navigation particulars as basis of training for navigators of ships flying foreign flags when entering the inland waterways of the Russian Federation to reduce influence of limiting factors and support the navigational safety.