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Displaying items by tag: Shannon Navigation

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels that the winter mooring period will end this Easter Sunday, 31 March, on the Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway.

Shannon Navigation Bye-law No. 17(3) will apply from 31 March, such that vessels should not berth in the same harbour for longer than the statutory period of five consecutive days nor more than a total of seven days in any one month.

Services were reconnected to Waterways Ireland harbours and jetties from Friday 15 March, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that Battlebridge Lock and the harbour areas immediately upstream and downstream in Battlebridge, Co Leitrim will be closed from this Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 March due to planned diving inspections in the area.

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.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that all locks and bridges within the North Shannon region will be closed for one day on Thursday 21 March to facilitate mandatory staff training.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways apologies for any inconvenience this may cause and thanks its customers for their cooperation in relation to this matter.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the lifting bridge at Tarmonbarry in Co Roscommon will remain closed until at least Thursday 18 April to facilitate essential maintenance works.

Works at Tarmonbarry were previously extended twice since beginning in early February, and a diversion route is available via the Camlin River.

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.

This story was updated on Wednesday 3 April to include the latest information.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that Clarendon Lock in Knockvicar, Co Roscommon will be closed this Wednesday 28 February from 9am to 5pm due to a planned ESB power outage in the area.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the installation of lighting on the underside of Carrick-on-Shannon bridge arches will take place between Monday 19 and Friday 23 February, with works to take place between 10am to 3pm daily.

The contractor will be using a mobile under-bridge hoist vehicle. One lane of the bridge will be closed during these hours and a stop/go traffic management plan will be in place for traffic crossing the bridge.

Masters of vessels should proceed with additional caution during these works and comply with the instructions of onsite safety staff, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the lifting bridges at Tarmonbarry and Rooskey in Co Roscommon will be closed on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 February to facilitate structural inspections.

In an update on Friday, Waterways added that while Rooskey lifting bridge will reopen on Saturday 10 February, the bridge at Tarmonbarry will remain closed until next Friday 16 February to facilitate maintenance works.

Update 16/2: Waterways Ireland wishes to notify masters of vessels and users Tarmonbarry Bridge will remain closed until Friday 8 March to facilitate essential maintenance works. A diversion route is available via the Camlin River.

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.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the westernmost section of the public jetty access at the Boyle Harbour public amenity in Boyle, Co Roscommon will be closed from Monday 5 to Friday 23 February to facilitate planned maintenance works to the harbour.

Published in Inland Waterways

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that access through Rooskey Lock in Co Leitrim will be limited until Friday 9 February.

This is as due to planned maintenance works to the lock, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Prior access through the lock can be arranged by calling Roosky Lockhouse on 071 963 8018 between 9am and noon.

Published in Inland Waterways

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.

Published in Inland Waterways
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Marine Wildlife Around Ireland One of the greatest memories of any day spent boating around the Irish coast is an encounter with marine wildlife.  It's a thrill for young and old to witness seabirds, seals, dolphins and whales right there in their own habitat. As boaters fortunate enough to have experienced it will testify even spotting a distant dorsal fin can be the highlight of any day afloat.  Was that a porpoise? Was it a whale? No matter how brief the glimpse it's a privilege to share the seas with Irish marine wildlife.

Thanks to the location of our beautiful little island, perched in the North Atlantic Ocean there appears to be no shortage of marine life to observe.

From whales to dolphins, seals, sharks and other ocean animals this page documents the most interesting accounts of marine wildlife around our shores. We're keen to receive your observations, your photos, links and youtube clips.

Boaters have a unique perspective and all those who go afloat, from inshore kayaking to offshore yacht racing that what they encounter can be of real value to specialist organisations such as the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) who compile a list of sightings and strandings. The IWDG knowledge base has increased over the past 21 years thanks in part at least to the observations of sailors, anglers, kayakers and boaters.

Thanks to the IWDG work we now know we share the seas with dozens of species who also call Ireland home. Here's the current list: Atlantic white-sided dolphin, beluga whale, blue whale, bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, Cuvier's beaked whale, false killer whale, fin whale, Gervais' beaked whale, harbour porpoise, humpback whale, killer whale, minke whale, northern bottlenose whale, northern right whale, pilot whale, pygmy sperm whale, Risso's dolphin, sei whale, Sowerby's beaked whale, sperm whale, striped dolphin, True's beaked whale and white-beaked dolphin.

But as impressive as the species list is the IWDG believe there are still gaps in our knowledge. Next time you are out on the ocean waves keep a sharp look out!