MARINE NOTICE No. 31 of 2020

All Navigations

Covid-19 measures

Closure of locks to boat traffic and restricted use of towpaths

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise all Masters of vessels and water users that following An Taoiseach’s direction that everybody must stay at home from midnight on 27th March until Easter Sunday, except in exceptional circumstances, and the new restrictions introduced by the Northern Ireland Executive on Saturday 28th March, the following closures will be in place from 2359 hrs on 30 March 2020: 

  1. All Locks on all navigations are closed until further notice.
  2. All service blocks are closed until further notice.
  3. The Winter Mooring period on the Shannon Navigation and Shannon Erne Waterway has been extended until 30 April 2020. There will be no additional cost for this extension.

Waterways Ireland is encouraging all users of vessels on our navigations not to take part in any activity on the water in order to comply with Government direction.

Towpaths remain open but we are encouraging locals who live in their vicinity to use them in accordance with Government guidelines, for brief physical exercise, within 2km of their home, always observing social distancing protocols. Where towpaths are likely to be busy, users are asked to restrict use, where possible, and only use those towpaths which are local, quiet and largely free of moored vessels.

Waterways Ireland thanks all vessel owners and operators for their co-operation in relation to this matter. 

P Harkin

Inspector of Navigation

30 March 2020

087-9852324