Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that the waterway is currently experiencing high water levels and fast flows.

Masters and all other water users should proceed with additional caution and bear the following in mind when on the water during high-water conditions:

• Air draft is reduced under all bridges and power lines
• Water velocity is significantly increased
• Access to jetties can be difficult as gangways and pontoons are elevated
• Navigation markers, pontoons, jetties may be submerged
• Mooring lines should checked regularly if it safe to do so

In addition, Waterways Ireland confirms that the following mooring facilities are closed due to flooding from high water levels:

• Athlone downstream jetty
• Ballinasloe Marina
• Pollboy jetties
• Shannonbridge Quay
• Banagher Harbour
• Clonmacnoise floating jetties
• Victoria Lock floating Jetties
• Reddins Quay (Tuamgraney)

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it thanks all vessel owners and operators for their cooperation in relation to this matter.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that Tarmonbarry Bridge and Lock will be closed this Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 November to facilitate inspection works.

In addition, Rooskey Bridge and Lock will be closed on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 November to facilitate inspection works.

Works at both locations will include diving operations within the vicinity of the bridges, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that Clarendon Lock in Knockvicar, Co Roscommon will be closed this Wednesday 15 November due to a planned electricity outage in the area.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the waiting jetty at the Railway Bridge in Limerick has been relocated to George’s Quay.

The jetty will be reinstated to its original location in March 2024 in time for the end of the winter period on Ireland’s inland waterways.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that public jetty access at Acres Lake in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim is closed as of Monday 23 October until Friday 15 December as a result of a planned maintenance works to the timber access jetty.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that the Killaloe Canal in Co Clare will be closed from next Monday 16 October for much the winter period in order to carry out works on the boardwalk.

These works are expected take around three months, and vessels moored in the canal should vacate the area prior to Sunday 15 October. Vessels remaining after this date may be removed by the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways.

Waterways Ireland advises masters that the winter mooring period for public harbours on the Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway will commence on Wednesday 1 November and will end on 31 March next year.

Masters wishing to avail of winter mooring are required to pay the winter mooring fee of €63.50 prior to 1 November. Online registration must be made on the Waterways Ireland website.

The steps in the winter mooring process are as follows:

1. Apply online for winter mooring at a specific harbour.
2. Receive email approval/rejection/alternative location of application.
3. Follow link on approval email when received to pay winter mooring fee online.

Masters are reminded that Bye-Law 17, the ‘five consecutive days/seven days in one month’ rule, continues to apply for masters not availing of winter mooring.

Waterways Ireland will be disconnecting its electricity supply points and water supply at public moorings for the winter period (November–March). Both services will be reinstated prior to the commencement of the 2024 boating season.

Owners should note that vessels are moored in public harbours at the owners risk at all times and may be directed to other harbours as operational exigencies require.

In other news, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways advises that two green conical aids to navigation — No 1248 upstream of Parteen Weir and No 500 upstream of Lanesboro Bridge — are currently off station. Mariners are requested to exercise care when navigating in these area.

Meanwhile, in Dromod Harbour in Co Leitrim the pump-out station is now fully operational.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that diving operations will be taking place at Tarmonbarry Wier from Monday 25 September for a period of approximately one week.

Alpha Flag (Divers Flag) will be flown to indicate the presence of divers in the water. The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways asks masters of vessels to please proceed with additional caution in the area.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users of the Shannon Navigation that an ESB contractor will be carrying out repairs on the Ardnacrusha tailrace bridge at Parteen from Monday 18 September for a period of six weeks.

The works involve repairing some of the deteriorated structure from a pontoon. Masters of vessels using the Ardnacrusha tailrace during the repair works should contact the contractor on 087 6494454 prior to entering the tailrace in order to coordinate safe passage.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the Quest Lough Derg event takes place around Killaloe, Co Clare and Ballina, Co Tipperary on Saturday 9 September.

To accommodate the event, the Shannon Navigation will be closed from noon on Friday 8 to Saturday 9 September at 7pm.

A floating pontoon will be placed across the Shannon Navigation some 100 metres upstream of Killaloe bridge. The pontoon will be lit during the hours of darkness and safety boats will be in the area while the pontoon is in place. No vessel or craft should come within 50 metres of the pontoon while it is in position.

The slipway at Ballina will be closed while the pontoon is being constructed. Construction will take place from Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 September and the pontoon will be dismantled on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September.

There will be restricted access to the Waterways Ireland jetties and pump-out facility in Killaloe from 3pm on Friday 8 to 7pm on Saturday 9 September. Mooring space will be available upstream of the pump-out facility.

The flow gates on the Killaloe Canal will be manned from 6am to 7.45am on Saturday 9 September to facilitate anglers and smaller vessels that wish to proceed upstream or downstream on Saturday morning while the pontoon is in place.

Some 1,500 athletes will move along the Waterways Ireland jetties and cross the flow-gate walkway in the morning and will return by the same route in the afternoon of Saturday 9 September 2023. Care should be taken when using the jetties and flow-gate walkway as there will be significant pedestrian traffic in these areas.

The kayaking element of Quest Lough Derg will take place at Twomilegate, Co Clare. Masters are requested to take heed of advice and directions from safety craft monitoring the event and to proceed at slow speed and with minimum wash in the vicinity of Twomilegate and Killaloe during the event.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it thanks its customers for their cooperation.