MARINE NOTICE, No 7 of 2016
Boat Passage IN and OUT of Dublin 2016
ROYAL AND GRAND CANALS
Please see below updated information for masters and owners on boat passages in or out of Dublin on the Royal & Grand Canals in 2016. Movements in or out of the city will 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.
For boat passage through the locks east of Lock 12 into / out from Dublin on either the Royal or Grand Canals, Masters are requested to contact the Waterways Ireland Eastern Regional Office (M-F 9.30am-4.30pm) on tel: ++353-(0)1-868-0148 or email dublincanals@waterwaysireland.org prior to making passage in order to plan the necessary lock-keeping assistance arrangements.
On the Grand Canal a minimum of two days notice prior to planned passage should 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.
On the Royal Canal two weeks’ notice of bridge passage (Newcomen Lifting Bridge) is required for the pre-set lift date, and lock assistance will then also be arranged. A minimum of 2 boats is required for a bridge lift to go ahead, please have available length, beam, water & air drafts of your craft, and phone / email details at time of making contact. The pre-set lift dates are set out in MN 006 of 2016.
Masters and owners are also reminded to ensure they have the following before making the passage through the city locks:
- 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 the boating season from mid-March to end of October, note that aquatic weed is generally more prevalent as the season progresses beyond Spring and may 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.
C.J.Lawn, Inspector of Navigation, 2 Feb 2016
