IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR GPS USERS ON LOUGH CORRIB
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The navigation system on Lough Corrib for the last 100 years was basically (with some exceptions)
“Keep red marks to starboard side” (right),
“Keep black marks to port side” (left)
when travelling northwards (that’s going from Galway towards Maam).
or anticlockwise (Ashford and Oughterard)
This has now been changed to the IALA “Region A” system
RED “ a cylindrical (can) shaped mark” to port,
GREEN “conical (cone) shaped mark” to starboard
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The old GPS charts for Garmin marine devices will now display entirely the wrong configuration and numbering, and due to the introduction of many new individual markers could be DANGEROUS. It will now be the case that a single red buoy should be kept to port when proceeding in the direction of buoyage. This is entirely misrepresented on the present Garmin GPS charts, and will lead the navigator into danger.
There is also a new safer routing system being employed, which has substantial differences to the present system.
A five year project has commenced during which the entire lake will move from the present system to IALA standard marking. It will be completed in 5 phases, starting in the River Corrib itself and heading North – finishing in Maam. New high-density polyethylene markers have been commissioned and a study is on-going to optimize positioning for both floating and fixed marks.
Existing marks have reconfigured or removed where necessary and new floating marks positioned where need determines.
The nature of usage of the lake is always evolving – the original system was designed with commerce and professional navigation in mind, to be used by people with a good maritime knowledge. Today, the profile of lake users could not be more different. A large number venturing onto the water for the first time, and many, quite naturally, have very limited navigational expertise.
The lake is very demanding navigationally, and the new system is intended to make it a far safer and more open facility with a view to bringing the lake to many more people than it does at present.
The Lough Corrib Navigation Trustees are very open to any well thought out suggestions for improvement of the system, and are working hand-in-hand with local resources to make sure that the job is done correctly, safely and thoughtfully.
They can be contacted at:
The Secretary,
Lough Corrib Navigation Trustees,
Galway City Council,
City Hall,
College Road,
GALWAY.