#Shannon - Lough Derg sailors have expressed disappointment over the continued closure of the Shannon Navigation at Ardnacrusha, which will keep them out of this year's WIORA races.

This year's celebratory WIORA regatta is marking its 40th year at Kilrush on the Shannon Estuary. With just four weeks to go, the fleet stands tantalisingly close to reaching its 40 boat target with 31 competitors entered so far. 

The Shannon was closed to navigation from Parteen Weir to Limerick in mid March by Waterways Ireland due to flooding and related "infrastructural deficiencies" on the waterway following this winter's storms.

These include damaged pontoons upstream of the railway bridge that have broken free of their moorings.

But sailors on Lough Derg claim that the real reason for the continued closure is financial – and the result is the effective exclusion of five boats from this summer's WIORA schedule, not to mention six other boats waiting to sail up-river.

More on this story as it develops.

Waterways Ireland advises all users of the Shannon Navigation that the stretch of navigation from Limerick City to Parteen Weir is closed to navigation due to continuing high flow rates and infrastructural deficiencies as a result of the winter storms and subsequent flooding.

Users should note that the floating weir at the entrance to the Abbey River in Limerick is no longer in place to protect vessels from striking the fixed weir. Also, there are many strong currents and eddies making navigation dangerous for both large and small craft.

Floating pontoons have been damaged and are not suitable for mooring to or walking on, safety inspection of these will be carried out when water levels and flows permit. Meanwhile, users are advised to stay clear of these until a further Marine Notice is issued on this matter.

Waterways Ireland reminds masters and owners of vessels that the winter mooring period finishes on the Shannon Navigation which includes the Shannon–Erne Waterway on Thurs 31 March. 

#InlandWaters - Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that the Lough Derg Rally 40 will take place from Saturday 11 to Saturday 18 July 2015.

During that time the rally will visit a number of harbours on the Shannon Navigation, beginning with Dromann on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12, moving on to Terryglass on Monday 13 and Tuesday 14, anchoring out on Wednesday 15 for Shannonbridge on Thursday 16 before reaching Athlone for the final two days, Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July.

For more on the IWAI Lough Derg Rally 40 click HERE.

#inland – Waterways Ireland has reminded masters and owners of vessels that the winter mooring period finishes on the Shannon Navigation which includes the Shannon–Erne Waterway on Tues 31 March.

#InlandWaters - Masters and owners of vessels on the western end of the Royal Canal are advised of navigation restrictions this weekend (Sat 19 and Sun 20 July) during the National Canoe Polo Championships at Richmond Harbour in Clondra, Co Longford.

Traffic management will also be in place in Athlone during the Shannon Boat Rally between Saturday 26 July and Sunday 3 August, with boats transiting from Lough Ree to Shannonbridge towards Ballinasloe during this period.

Masters should allow extra time for lock passage at Athlone when the rally is moving south due to the large number of vessels expected.

Elsewhere on the Shannon Navigation, an open water swimming race will take place from the Bord na Mona railway bridge, some 3km upstream of Lanesborough, to Lanesborough bridge on the August Bank Holiday (Monday 4 August) from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

All masters and owners are requested to proceed at slow speed with minimum wash when passing this stretch of the navigation and note any advice given by race stewards and safety boat crew associated with the event.

#boathire – In a cost reduction move, two leading Shannon boat hire companies are to merge. Carrickcraft and Waveline Cruisers will be merging for the 2015 boat hire season. The existing shareholders of Carrickcraft and Waveline will be shareholders in the enlarged holding company for the group.

The combined fleet of 125 boats will be based at Carrickcraft's existing marinas at Carrick-on- Shannon and Banagher on the Shannon and at Bellanaleck on Lough Erne. Administration and accounting will be centralised at Carrickcraft's Markethill office.

Sven and Anita Neubert of Waveline have already moved back to live in Germany and will run the German-speaking booking office for the combined group. With their knowledge of this market and the increased fleet, the target is to increase the number of bookings from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

John Morton, Managing Director of Carrickcraft, said "We have worked well with Sven and Anita on many joint projects and this is a great opportunity for us to increase our business in Europe. We have developed some excellent web-based marketing strategies for the English-speaking market and will now try to do the same for the German-speaking market."

"Consolidation will help us to reduce some costs while maintaining and improving the customer experience. In addition to European Sales, Anita will be focussing on quality control with the full support of the Board."

MARINE NOTICE

No 3 of 2014

Shannon Navigation

Lough Derg

Red Porthand Buoy Off Station

Waterways Ireland has been advised that a red porthand buoy has been sighted grounded near Tinker Point on the western tip of Illaunmore island. Its previous position has yet to be identified.

Masters are requested to navigate with due caution in this area of Lough Derg until the buoy has been repositioned.

#ardnacrusha – Waterways Ireland is changing the advice on travel from Ardnascrusha into the Limerick Navigation due to a new service available from the ESB which provides real time information on the output from the turbines.
Boaters are advised not to travel on the Ardnacrusha to Limerick Navigation if the output from Ardnacrusha is above 20 Megawatts. The previous advice advised boaters not to travel if one turbine was operating; 1 turbine is equivalent to 20 megawatts.
The new service offers real time information on the megawatt output of Ardnacrusha by phone (tel 087-6477229) and is available 24hrs a day. Boaters are advised to contact the ESB phoneline for information on the output when making travel plans. In the event of a line failure in the real time information number, boaters can call the main Ardnacrusha number 087-9970131 for the megawatt information as well as any other information required for travel through Ardnacrusha.
This new information service is an improvement in safety for mariners who travel on the Ardnacrusha to Limerick Navigation.