Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Removed For Shipping and Ferries

7th March 2022
File image of Irish Ferries’ Dublin Swift at Dublin Port
File image of Irish Ferries’ Dublin Swift at Dublin Port Credit: Kevin Williams/Geograph

The latest Marine Notice from the Irish Maritime Administration notes that as of 00:01am on Sunday 6 March, the COVID-19 travel requirements set out in SI No 45 of 2021 and SI No 135 of 2021 have been revoked by the Department of Health.

This means that there is no longer a requirement for any person travelling to Ireland to have:

  • a completed passenger locator form;
  • evidence of having been fully vaccinated;
  • evidence of recovery from COVID-19; or
  • evidence of a negative/not-detected result from a RT-PCR/Antigen test.

The department requests that all port authorities take note of this change and remove any signage associated with such requirements.

Passenger ferry operators are also requested to remove any signage related to the above restrictions from onboard vessels, to update their websites accordingly and to advise passengers scheduled to travel in the short term of the changes to travel requirements.

Queries in relation to this Marine Notice can be addressed to [email protected].

Marine Notice 16 of 2021 is withdrawn.

MacDara Conroy

About The Author

MacDara Conroy

Email The Author

MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

Direct Donation to Afloat button

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Irish Sailing & Boating

Since restrictions began in March 2020, the Government is preparing for a 'controlled and gradual return to sport' and the 2020 sailing fixtures are being tentatively redrafted by yacht clubs, rowing clubs angling and diving clubs across Ireland as the country enters a new phase in dealing with the Coronavirus. The hope is that a COVID-19 restrictions might be eased by May 5th as Sport Ireland has asked national governing bodies for information on the challenges they face. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.

To help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) everyone has been asked to stay at home. But some people may need to do more than this.

You may need to either:

You do these things to stop other people from getting coronavirus.

Read advice for people in at-risk groups

Read advice about cocooning.

Restricted movements

Everybody in Ireland has been asked to stay at home. You should only go out for a few reasons, such as shopping for food.

But you need to restrict your movements further if you: 

  • live with someone who has symptoms of coronavirus, but you feel well
  • are a close contact of a confirmed case of coronavirus
  • have returned to Ireland from another country

You need to restrict your movements for at least 14 days.

But if the person you live with has had a test and it is negative, you don't need to wait 14 days. You should still follow the advice for everyone - stay at home as much as possible.

Close contact

This is only a guide but close contact can mean:

  • spending more than 15 minutes of face-to-face contact within 2 metres of an infected person
  • living in the same house or shared accommodation as an infected person

How to restrict your movements 

Follow the advice for everybody - stay at home.