Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Royal Canal that the 46th Lock is closed as of today (Friday 29 April) for one week in order to maintain water levels in Richmond Harbour due to emergency repair works at the 45th Lock.

Waterways Ireland advises all users of the Barrow Navigation that a Dragon Boat regatta will take place in Emily Square, Athy, Co Kildare from 9am to 6pm this Sunday 1 May.

Elsewhere, users of the Royal Canal are advised that a kayaking and watersport event will take place in Mullingar Harbour from 9am to 3pm next Thursday 5 May.

Masters of other craft are requested to proceed at slow speed and with minimum wash and note any directions issued by the stewards at each event.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and waterway users of the Shannon Navigation of an interruption to the power supply to the floating jetties at Shannonbridge in Co Offaly from tomorrow, Tuesday 26 to Thursday 28 April to facilitate essential repairs and maintenance works.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users on the Shannon-Erne Waterway that the pump-out facility at Belturbet in Co Cavan is temporarily out of order.

This is due to a loss of power associated with the construction of the new service block being undertaken by Cavan County Council.

It’s expected that the electrical connection will be re-established in early June, in accordance with the builder’s latest programme of works.

In the intervening period, alternative boat pump-out facilities are available on the waterways at Aghalane, Galloon and Knockninny.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System that works to reduce river bed levels on the approach to Bellanaleck Slipway are ongoing as of 7am this morning (Monday 25 April) until 6pm tomorrow (Tuesday 26 April).

During this time the slipway, one half of the floating jetty and the area of water between the public jetty and private marina will remain closed for mooring and navigation.

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Royal Canal that Lock 45 in Cloondara, Co Longford is closed to navigation until further notice for emergency leakage repairs.

Navigation on this inland waterway between Lock 44 and Lock 45 will not be possible until at least Friday 6 May when works are expected to be completed.

Waterways Ireland has issued notice that it plans to remove vessels in contravention of bye-laws from three of its inland waterways from early next month.

Vessels that appear abandoned or have no no permit (as per Bye Law 6(8), are doubled moored and/or causing obstruction (sunk) (Bye Law 27 (3)), or are deemed to be/likely to cause a hazard to navigation (Bye-Law 33(3)) will be removed from the Grand Canal, Royal Canal and Barrow Navigation from Wednesday 4 May.

Removed vessels may then be subsequently disposed of in accordance with Bye Law 34(2).

Affected vessels have been stickered where access allows and owners, where known, have been contacted, Waterways Ireland says.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and water users on the Shannnon Navigation that Rooskey Lifting Bridge and Rooskey Lock will be without power supply tomorrow, Friday 15 April from 9am until 4pm due to a notified ESB power supply interruption in the village.

Construction of a new pedestrian and cycleway bridge across the Shannon Navigation in Athlone will commence on Tuesday 3 May, Waterways Ireland confirms.

The greenway bridge is funded from a €8.1 million allocation to the Galway-to-Dublin Greenway and will be built some 50 metres upstream of Athlone town bridge.

The navigation channel in the vicinity of the in-water works will be restricted to a width of 15 metres from 3 May. Both sides of the navigation channel will be buoyed with temporary makers.

Large barges, workboats and other equipment will be operating in the navigation from Wansboro’s field (upstream of the railway bridge) to Athlone town bridge.

Masters of vessels are advised to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the works and to follow the instructions of safety craft and personnel in the area.

Phase 1 of the project commencing in May involves the installation of a cofferdam which will take around four weeks to complete. Waterways Ireland says it will advise details of further phases in due course.

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System that remedial works on the entrance to the Round ‘O’ public slipway in Enniskillen are planned from 8am on Tuesday 12 April to 7am on Friday 15 April inclusive. Access to the slipway will not be possible during these works.