Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that low water levels are being experienced throughout the Grand Canal. This follows a recent advisory over low waters on the 26th level of the Barrow Line.

Masters of vessels are advised to proceed with additional caution along the inland waterway and to contact the relevant water patroller for latest advice and assistance.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that instream work will commence on the new slipway south of the Athlone Lock from tomorrow, Wednesday 4 August.

Works will also take place on the East Bank some 200m south of the weir on the Shannon Navigation. Temporary green navigation aids will be placed on the western extremities of the works area.

Masters of vessels are advised to proceed with additional caution at slow speed and keep to the West Bank while navigating in this area of the inland waterway.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that low water levels are being experienced on the 26th level (Long Level) of the Grand Canal’s Barrow Line.

As of Friday 30 July, water levels are down 400mm from expected levels. As a result, masters of vessels are advised to proceed with additional caution and to contact the water patroller (Joe Moore at 087 247 3093) for latest advice and assistance.

Waterways Ireland has issued a number of advisories for masters and users of the Shannon Navigation over the coming days and weeks.

Where the Shannon meets the River Suck, Pollboy lock gates are on restricted operation until this Saturday 24 July. Vessels with a beam in excess of 12 feet will not be able to through the lock until this time.

Meanwhile, a swimming advisory notice is in place for Lough Allen, Acres Lake, Dromod and Summer Cove. Leitrim County Council has advised that swimming is not recommended at these locations due to reports of poor water quality.

And in Carrick-on-Shannon, navigation and mooring restrictions will be in place on Sunday 1 August to facilitate the Rowing Club Regatta.

The regatta will be held on a 500m stretch of the inland waterway immediately south of the town bridge from 9am to around 6pm. Craft wishing to make a through passage will be facilitated approximately every two hours during the course of the regatta.

Masters should note that only vessels of an overall length of 22ft (6.8m) or less will be permitted on the floating jetties from next Wednesday 28 July to Sunday 1 August. This is necessary in the interest of marine safety and to facilitate the laying of the competition course. Vessels berthed from Wednesday will be required to remain in place until racing finishes the following Sunday.

No vessels should approach the jetties between 4pm on Wednesday and Sunday evening as the entrance to the berths will be closed off and manoeuvring room will be severely restricted due to the proximity of the course.

Masters are advised to proceed at slow speed and with due caution and to take note of advice from course marshals when passing through the area.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that low water levels are being experienced on the summit level of the Royal Canal near Mullingar as the Midlands experience the highest temperatures of Ireland’s extended heatwave.

Water levels are currently down 300mm. As a result, masters of vessels are advised to proceed with additional caution and to contact the water patroller (Billy Dixon at +353 (0)87 6182104) for latest advice and assistance.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and users of the Shannon Navigation that the ESB will be carrying out repairs to the electricity network in the Tarmonbarry area in Co Roscommon tomorrow, Monday 12 July.

As a result, Tarmonbarry lifting bridge and lock will be inoperable behttps://afloat.ie/itemlist/tag/Shannon%20Navigationtween 9am and 4pm during the repair works and no passage will be permitted until their completion.

The cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways also notes that due to ongoing mechanical issues, Begnagh Bridge on the Royal Canal will be opened by manual means on the following dates only: Fridays 16, 23 and 30 July and Fridays 6, 13, 20 and 27 August.

Lifts will occur at 12pm on each day and prior notice must be given two days in advance to the water patroller in Clondra at +353 (0)87 915 1400.

Waterways Ireland is commissioning a feasibility study on options for sustainable on-the-water living on Ireland’s canal network.

Details of the request for tender (RFT) are available online, with the study expected to include analysis of on-the-water living conditions abroad as well as assessing the suitability of Ireland’s inland waterways for similar development, as promised last year by Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan.

Currently, so-called ‘liveaboard’ barge owners have found themselves in legal limbo as canal bye-laws prohibit the mooring of vessels in any one spot for longer than five days.

Despite a growing demand for houseboat living in Ireland, there are only 28 residential moorings across the country — with the majority at the heavily oversubscribed Grand Canal Dock.

The deadline for submissions on the RFT is 5pm on Thursday 9 August.

Waterways Ireland proposes to dispose, by public tender, of a number of vessels removed from the Grand Canal, Royal Canal, Barrow Navigation and Shannon Navigation.

Thirty-one vessels are presently stored in the Waterways Ireland impound lot in Athlone, Co Westmeath.

All offers are to be made in writing and submitted by Friday 30 July to Waterways Ireland Offices, Harbour Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly for attention of the Assistant Inspector of Navigation.

All bids are to be made on the tender document which should be completed and returned in full, with the tender form completed and signed.

All vessels may be inspected (externally only) between 9am and 5pm next Wednesday 14 July.

Waterways Ireland advises that the towpath on the Grand Canal between Park West and the 9th Lock Road in Clondalkin, West Dublin will be closed from tomorrow, Monday 5 July until Friday 16 July to facilitate essential works on behalf of the ESB by contractor KLM Utilities. Detours will be in place on the route.

Waterways Ireland has issued separate notices for masters and owners of vessels on the Shannon Navigation regarding weed cutting and diving operations.

Weed cutting is currently taking place on the Lecarrow Canal in Co Roscommon and will continue until this Friday 2 July. Masters of vessels are requested to proceed with caution in the vicinity.

Elsewhere, diving operations are scheduled to take place between tomorrow, Thursday 1 July and next Tuesday 6 July in four locations on the Shannon Navigation:

• Portumna: 0.5km above the bridge downriver to the top of Lough Derg
• Shannon Harbour: between Minus Island and Lehinch Island
• Meelick: around Friar’s Island
• Banagher: between Muckinish Island and Inishee Island

Masters of vessels on the inland waterway are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the diving operations and follow the instructions of the safety boat crew.