Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and interested parties of the intended disposal of a number of vessels, by public tender, which were removed from the inland waterways.

Ten vessels are presently stored by Waterways Ireland at Shannon Harbour, Co Offaly and at Munster Harbour near Portumna. All vessels may be inspected (externally only) between 11am and 4pm this Saturday 1 April.

Tender information and relevant documentation are available from the Waterways Ireland website or by contacting the Inspectorate Office, Waterways Ireland, Harbour Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly (Tel 057 932 5019).

Sealed tenders should reach the Assistant Inspector of Navigation at the above address not later than noon on Friday 21 April. Please note that only postal submissions will be accepted.

Please also note that a condition of sale is that vessels be removed from Waterways Ireland property once purchased.

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 users of the Grand Canal at Tullamore, Co Offaly that canal works between Lock 26 and Lock 27 will take place in the week starting Monday 27 March.

The water level on the Grand Canal between Lock 26 and Lock 27 will be lowered. All vessels between these locks — including the branch line to Tullamore Harbour — should relocated from that canal level by Monday.

Navigation through Tullamore on the Grand Canal will be restricted from Monday 27 until Friday 31 March, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Masters of vessels should contact Waterways Ireland prior to undertaking passage on the Grand Canal in this area during the works.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and water users on the Erne System that emergency overhead line repair works are planned between Castle Island and the west shoreline on Saturday 25 March.

To enable the repair works to be completed, the navigation channel between Castle Island and the west shoreline of the River Erne will be temporarily closed on Saturday from 10am to 3pm.

Safety boats will be in place for the duration of the repair works. The navigation channel between Castle Island and the east shoreline will remain open.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways also warns that the Erne System is currently experiencing high water levels.

Masters of vessels and 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 and 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 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 users of the Grand Canal in Dublin that jetty repair works between Lock C4 and Lock C5 will commence on Monday 3 April and continue for around eight weeks.

The water level on the Grand Canal between these locks will be lowered to accommodate the repair works.

Masters of vessels should contact Waterways Ireland prior to undertaking passage on the Grand Canal east or west of Wilton Terrace during these works, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System that water-based activities will take place at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum area of Broadmeadow, Enniskillen on St Patrick’s Day this Friday 17 March.

Boat trips, canoeing, water bikes and other activities will be taking place on the day, and masters of vessels should keep their wash to a minimum when passing the area of the activities, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland reminds all masters and owners of vessels on the Grand Canal, Royal Canal, Barrow Line and Barrow Navigation that all canal permits expired on 1 November 2022 and must be renewed for 2023.

Permits can be renewed online at the Waterways Ireland website HERE.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways emphasises that vessels with no permit, as required by Bye Law 6(8) of the Canals Act, will be “removed as operationally convenient”.

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 and owners of vessels on the Erne System that the Erne Head of the River rowing race will take place this Saturday 4 March.

The event will start upstream of the Killyhevlin Hotel and will race through to Enniskillen Royal Boat Club.

Rowing boats and craft will be on the water from 9am to 4pm. There will be around 100 rowing crews participating in two events: the Women’s Eight at 11am and the Men’s Eight at 1.30pm.

Masters of vessels should adhere to all instructions given by race marshals on the day and keep the race course clear, especially during racing.

Masters of vessels are also asked to keep wash to minimum when passing rowing crews and race marshals, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.