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.

Waterways Ireland proposes to dispose, by public tender, of a number of vessels removed from the inland waterways under its purview.

Sixteen vessels are presently stored by Waterways Ireland at Shannon Harbour, Co Offaly on the Grand Canal. All vessels may be inspected (externally only) between 11am and 3pm next Saturday 2 March.

All vessels are sold as seen, intended as obsolete items. Lots will be sold as individual items only, to the highest acceptable tender.

The vessel catalogue and tender submission form are available from the Waterways Ireland website.

Sealed tenders should reach the Assistant Inspector of Navigation at the Inspectorate office, Waterways Ireland, Harbour Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly (Tel 057 932 5019) no later than noon on Friday 15 March. Please note only postal submissions will be accepted.

Only successful tenders will be notified by email from the details supplied.

A condition of sale is that vessels be removed from Waterways Ireland property once purchased.

Waterways Ireland will provide a crane to remove vessels from the impound lot. A small sum will be added to each tender to facilitate the crane hire (€100-€150). Bidders must provide their own suitable transport/trailer to remove vessels from the pound.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the Henry Street Jetties in Enniskillen will be closed this Friday 23 to Saturday 24 February.

This is to accommodate the annual Fishing Tackle and Bait angling open weekend taking place in the Co Fermanagh town, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of all craft on the Shannon-Erne Waterway that repair works will be taking place at Roscarban Bridge in Co Leitrim from Wednesday 14 February until mid-March.

During these works, a mechanical platform will be hung from the side of the bridge by mechanical plant, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

The navigable channel will remain open, but boaters are asked to comply with safety signage and heed all instructions from safety personnel who will be in the area.

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.

Waterways Ireland is seeking planning permission for a five-year programme of maintenance works along the Barrow Navigation at townlands throughout counties Carlow, Laois and Kildare.

The proposed works will consist of essential maintenance and repair of the navigation assets and will include dredging, back-drain maintenance, and towpath and bank repairs.

Waterways Ireland says it seeks to improve the assets along the Barrow Navigation, which is a nationally important recreation and navigation corridor and also has a unique heritage and biodiversity value.

The Barrow Navigation features many bridges, locks and buildings that are protected structures and/or national monuments, and the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says its works will seek to protect these structures as well as the natural, cultural and amenity potential of the corridor to ensure the continued use and accessibility for all users.

Following validation, the planning documents will be publicly available on the three councils’ planning portals. Waterways Ireland encourages the public and interested parties to familiarise themselves with the documents and submit potential feedback to the councils.

Gerard Bayly, senior engineer on the Barrow with Waterways Ireland said: “The Barrow Navigation is a nationally important heritage corridor comprising a rich tapestry of natural, built and cultural assets.

“At Waterways Ireland, our goal is to ensure we can provide safe and sustainable experiences for all users of our waterways.

“We seek to maintain the heritage and biodiversity of Ireland’s waterways while providing a high-quality navigation and recreation offering, for the benefit of all.”

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.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Lower Bann navigation in Northern Ireland that due to the installation of new lock gates at Movanagher Lock, the lock will be closed for a period of around five weeks as of Tuesday 6 February.

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.

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.

Waterways Ireland has been accused of attempting to gentrify Grand Canal Dock with plans to hike annual fees for houseboat dwellers by nearly 700 per cent.

Residents among the 30 vessels at the Dublin city centre mooring told The Journal that they have no objection in principle to an increase in the annual mooring fees, which include access to electricity, water and refuse collection.

But they argue that the sharp rise from €578 annually to €4,000, rising to €7,500 over six years, is “not affordable or realistic”.

In response, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says the proposed rise in charges is in line with the “superior” facilities at Grand Canal Dock — adding that any houseboat owners unwilling to pay would be “facilitated at an alternative location”.

The Journal has more on the story HERE.