Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Shannon Navigation that overhead power line repair works will take place at Ballyleague on Thursday 6 April.

To enable the repair works to be completed, the navigation channel will be temporarily closed on that morning for two hours.

There will be safety boats in place for the duration of the repair works.

Masters of vessels are requested to observe the instructions of safety boat crew during this repair work, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on the Shannon Navigation that the waiting jetties at the Railway Bridge in Limerick will be reinstated at the end of March.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the jetties had been relocated to Georges Quay from the end of October last year for the winter period.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on Lough Ree on the Shannon Navigation that the port-hand lateral marker on the south side of Inchmore Island is now back on station.

The temporary red buoy installed in early January has now been removed, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on the Shannon Navigation that replacement of the upstream lock gates at Clarendon Lock is ongoing and the lock will now reopen for navigation on Friday 3 March.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, February had been the original target date for reopening of the lock in Co Roscommon after its closure for works on the lock gates on 1 November last.

Following the pre-Christmas warning over an off-station marker on the Shannon Navigation, Waterways Ireland advises that a temporary red marker has now been installed in the relevant area north of Athlone.

The temporary marker is in place of the port-hand lateral marker on the south side of Inchmore Island on Lough Ree.

Masters of Vessels should proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the island, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users the Shannon Navigation at Lough Ree that a port hand lateral marker on the south side of Inchmore Island is currently off station.

Masters of vessels should proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of Inchmore Island north of Athlone until further notice.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and waterway users on the Shannon Navigation that the Head of the Shannon rowing event will take place in Carrick-on-Shannon this Saturday 3 December.

The event will take place downstream of Carrick bridge for a distance of 3.5km. The rowing starts at navigation maker known locally as White Woman/White Lady downstream of Carrick-on-Shannon and will proceed back to the Marina just downstream of the bridge.

The rowing events will take place between 10am and 4pm. Masters of vessels are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the rowing events during these times.

This event is the second Head of the Shannon of 2022, as last year’s event was postponed until February. Details for competing rowers can be found HERE.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on the Shannon Navigation that the upgrade works on the waiting jetties upstream and downstream of Portumna Bridge will be carried out from Thursday 17 November to Friday 2 December.

These jetties will remain open except for the area where works are ongoing. The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it regrets any inconvenience that this may cause and thanks its customers for their cooperation in relation to this matter.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and water users that the Shannon Navigation, Erne System, Barrow Navigation and Northern Ireland’s River Bann are currently experiencing high water levels which are expected to continue to rise.

All users of these inland waterways should proceed with additional caution and bear the following in mind:

• 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.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on the Shannon Navigation that the waiting jetties at the Railway Bridge in Limerick will be relocated to Georges Quay from Saturday 29 October.

These jetties will be reinstated to their original location in March 2023, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.