MARINE NOTICE

No 30 of 2021

ROYAL AND GRAND CANALS

 

BOAT PASSAGE IN and OUT OF DUBLIN 2021

 

Waterways Ireland wish to update masters and owners of boat passage arrangements in or out of Dublin on the Grand & Royal Canals in 2021. Movements in or out of the city will continue to be organised by prior arrangement to take place as a single movement in one day.  Boaters will be facilitated to travel the system if their passage is considered to be safe by Waterways Ireland and they have the valid permit(s) for mooring and passage.

 

In order to plan the necessary lock assistance for movements east of Lock 12 on either canal, Masters are required to contact the Waterways Ireland Eastern Regional Office by email dublincanals@waterwaysireland.org or tel: ++353-(0)1-868-0148 prior to making passage.  At time of making contact please advise the following details:

 

–  Length, beam, water & air drafts of your craft (provide approximates if don’t have exact dimensions)

–  Phone / email contact details

–  Permit number and expiry date of current canal permit

 

On the Grand Canal a minimum of two days’ notice prior to planned passage must be given and, with the exception of pre-arranged events, a maximum of 2 boats per day will be taken through the locks, travelling either East or West.  In certain circumstances, e.g. for slower or larger barges, the limit will be 1 boat per day.  Due to periodic anti-social activity along some of canal route into Dublin, boat passage will also not be possible in certain weather conditions and at weekends over the late spring & summer period.  This can be planned for at time of making contact, and suitable arrangements for passage made.

 

On the Royal Canal repairs and upgrades are ongoing to Spencer Dock Sea Lock, so boat passage through here remains suspended at this time and no bridge lift dates have been set for Newcomen Lift Bridge.  Should there be updates to this position, details of these will be advised by separate Notice.

 

Masters and owners are also reminded to ensure that they have the following before making the passage through the city locks on either canal.  Waterways Ireland reserve the right to postpone passage to another day if all of these are not in place.

 

  • adequate fuel on board
  • competent and adequate crew to operate the boat and locks (minimum crew of 3)
  • a lock key on board their boat
  • mooring lines of adequate length to handle vessel through a lock (approx.15m length)
  • no known mechanical problems with their boat

 

Passages can be arranged in this boating season from June until the end of October.  Also note that aquatic weed is generally more prevalent as the season progresses which can hamper passage.  Boaters will be facilitated as far as practicable although Waterways Ireland cannot guarantee that passage will be possible on every planned date. Early contact will greatly assist planning and facilitate the making of the necessary arrangements.

 

 

Patrick Harkin

Inspector of Navigation

12 June 2021