Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and water users that the rescheduled Head of the Shannon rowing event will take place on Saturday 19 February.

The day’s events will take place at 11am and 2pm downstream of Carrick-on-Shannon bridge for a distance of 3.5km. The rowing starts at the navigation maker known locally as White Woman/White Lady and will proceed back to the marina downstream of the bridge.

Masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the rowing events.

All 16 locks on the Shannon-Erne Waterway will be out of service from today, Friday 24 December to Monday 3 January inclusive.

No lock passage by boat will be possible during this period. Normal service will resume at 9am on Tuesday 4 January.

Waterways Ireland adds that the service blocks at Aghalane and Haughton's Shore are closed until Monday 14 March. The service blocks at Ballyconnell, Ballinamore, Keshcarrigan and Leitrim shall remain open.

All associated land-based and water-based Blueway trails shall remain open, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways confirms.

In other updates: on the Erne System, Bellanaleck slipway is closed until further notice, while on the Shannon Navigation, Clarendon Lock in Co Roscommon will reopen to navigation on Tuesday 4 January following works in preparation for lock gate replacement, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and users of the Shannon-Erne Waterway that tree trimming and hedge cutting will continue at various locations over the winter period.

During these operations until February 2022, mechanical plant will operate on floating pontoons on the water as well as along the banks of the inland waterway.

Masters of vessels will be advised by Waterways Ireland staff when making a passage, and their cooperation is requested at this time.

Elsewhere, on the Shannon Navigation, Waterways Ireland advises that Cleighran More jetty on Lough Allen is closed until further notice due to damage sustained in Storm Barra this week.

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise all masters of vessels and water users that the Head of the Shannon rowing event will take place on Saturday 4 December.

The event will take place downstream of Carrick-on-Shannon bridge for a distance of 3.5km.

The rowing starts at navigation maker known locally as White Woman/White Lady and will proceed back to the Marina downstream of of the bridge.

Rowing events will take place at 11am and 2pm on the day.

Masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the rowing events.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that Athlone Lock will be temporarily closed on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 November to facilitate further flood relief works.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation of the installation of two red markers at the weir boom upstream of Rooskey lock on the Leitrim/Roscommon border.

These additional red markers are intended to guide vessels away from the weir boom and the shallow water in that area of the inland waterway.

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that Athlone Lock will be temporarily closed from next Monday 1 November until Wednesday 3 November inclusive to facilitate flood relief works.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that Clarendon Lock in Co Roscommon will be closed from Tuesday 2 November until January.

This is due to essential works required to the lock in advance of replacement of lock gates planned for winter 2022/23.

Elsewhere on the inland waterway, masters and owners are advised that instream work on the new slipway south of the Athlone Lock have ceased (and on the east bank some 200m south of the weir).

Works will recommence in May 2022. Temporary yellow markers are in place around the extremities of the works area. Masters of vessels are advised to proceed with additional caution at slow speed and keep to the west bank while navigating in this area.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that an underwater archaeological survey adjacent to Wansboro Field, Athlone will take place this Friday 22 October.

The survey is expected to run from 9am to 2pm, and all vessels are asked to take additional care when underway in this area of the inland waterway within the aforementioned hours.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that the Underwater Archaeology Unit of the National Monuments Service will be carrying out diving operations this week.

From tomorrow, Monday 11 to next Sunday 17 October, dives will be taking place in Portumna in Co Galway, from 500m north of Portumna bridge to Lough Derg, and at Ballymacegan Island within the old navigation channel in Co Tipperary, 7km north of Portumna bridge.

All vessels are asked to take additional care when underway in these areas. A safety boat will be in attendance and Flag Alpha will be flown during diving operations.