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.

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 and owners of vessels that all 16 locks on the Shannon-Erne Waterway will be out of service from Friday 22 December to Monday 1 January inclusive.

No lock passage by boat will be possible during this period before normal service resumes at 9am on Tuesday 2 January, says the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the service block at Ballyconnell is currently closed due for extensive refurbishing works.

The service blocks at Aghalane and Haughton’s Shore, Ballinamore, Keshcarrigan and Leitrim village remain open, as do all land-based and water-based blueway trails associated with the waterway.

Waterways Ireland says it regrets any inconvenience that this may cause and thanks its customers for their cooperation in this matter.

Further information may be had during normal business hours by contacting Waterways Ireland’s Carrick-on-Shannon office at 071 9650 562.

Waterways Ireland is planning to commence extensive refurbishment works to Ballyconnell service block on the Shannon-Erne Waterway on Monday 27 November, with works scheduled to last approximately four months.

During this time the service block will be closed to the public, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways.

Alternative service block facilities managed by Waterways Ireland can be found along the Shannon-Erne Waterway at Haughton’s Shore in Co Leitrim and Aghalane, Co Fermanagh.

For further details on the closure, contact the Waterways Ireland Regional Offices on 0719650787 or email [email protected].

Waterways Ireland advises masters that the winter mooring period for public harbours on the Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway will commence on Wednesday 1 November and will end on 31 March next year.

Masters wishing to avail of winter mooring are required to pay the winter mooring fee of €63.50 prior to 1 November. Online registration must be made on the Waterways Ireland website.

The steps in the winter mooring process are as follows:

1. Apply online for winter mooring at a specific harbour.
2. Receive email approval/rejection/alternative location of application.
3. Follow link on approval email when received to pay winter mooring fee online.

Masters are reminded that Bye-Law 17, the ‘five consecutive days/seven days in one month’ rule, continues to apply for masters not availing of winter mooring.

Waterways Ireland will be disconnecting its electricity supply points and water supply at public moorings for the winter period (November–March). Both services will be reinstated prior to the commencement of the 2024 boating season.

Owners should note that vessels are moored in public harbours at the owners risk at all times and may be directed to other harbours as operational exigencies require.

In other news, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways advises that two green conical aids to navigation — No 1248 upstream of Parteen Weir and No 500 upstream of Lanesboro Bridge — are currently off station. Mariners are requested to exercise care when navigating in these area.

Meanwhile, in Dromod Harbour in Co Leitrim the pump-out station is now fully operational.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that Locks 9 to 14 on the Shannon-Erne Waterway will be out of service on Thursday 5 October from 9.30am to 4pm due to a planned ESB power outage.

No lock passage by boat will be possible during this period, but it is expected that normal service will resume at 4pm, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland is concluding its jetty upgrade works in Leitrim village, and advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon-Erne Waterway of the following:

• The public jetty fronting the Marina Apartments in Leitrim village will reopen for mooring this Friday 29 September.
• The public jetty and car park at the service block in Leitrim village will be closed on Thursday 28 September to facilitate demobilisation of floating plant and equipment.

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 this matter.

Waterways Ireland is commencing upgrading works to a jetty in Leitrim village, and advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon-Erne Waterway that this will result in the following temporary closures:

• The public jetty fronting the Marina Apartments in Leitrim village will be closed for mooring from Thursday 14 to Friday 29 September.
• The public jetty at the service block in Leitrim village is closed for mooring from Wednesday 13 to Friday 15 September.
• The car park in Leitrim village will be closed on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 September to accommodate mobilisation of floating plant and equipment.

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 this matter.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and water users on the Shannon-Erne Waterway that Inland Fisheries Ireland will be conducting a fish stock survey on Lough Garadice in Co Leitrim next week between Monday 4 and Thursday 7 September.

All nets will be clearly marked by orange buoys marked “IFI Survey”, adds the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways.

Masters of vessels and all water users should proceed with additional caution when operating on Lough Garadice during this period.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon-Erne Waterway that tree trimming and hedge cutting will be carried out at various locations during the autumn/winter period from September 2023 to February 2024.

During this operation, floating pontoons will be located on the water with mechanical plant operating. Mechanical plant will also be in operation along the banks of the waterway.

Masters will be advised by Waterways Ireland staff when making a passage and the co-operation of masters is requested at this time.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says it regrets any inconvenience caused to its customers.