Registration of Cruisers
All Cruisers using the Shannon Navigation and the Erne System must be registered within the jurisdiction of their permanent marina. Only open undecked boats with an engine horsepower of less than 15 hp and 10 hp, respectively are exempted.
Berthing in Public Harbours
On the Shannon Navigation and the Shannon-Erne Waterway Cruisers may berth in public harbours for five consecutive days or a total of seven days in any one month during the period 1 April to 31 October.
On the Erne System no vessel may berth at a public mooring for more than 48 hours without a four hour intermission.
Pump Out Berths
Masters of Cruisers are requested not to berth at pump out stations for extended periods to the detriment of other Cruisers wishing to use the facilities.
Speed Restriction
A vessel or boat shall not be navigated on the Shannon Navigation at a speed in excess of 5 kph when within 200 metres of a bridge, quay, jetty or wharf, when in a harbour or canal or when passing within 100 metres of a moored vessel or boat.
Cruisers navigating the Shannon-Erne Waterway should observe the general 5 kph speed limit which applies along the waterway. This is necessary in order to prevent damage to the banks caused by excessive wash from Cruisers.
Cruisers navigating the Erne System should observe the statutory 5 kph / 6mph/10kph speed limit areas.
Unusual Activity
Unusual waterborne boats/barges/work-vessels, etc. may be encountered from time to time, even hovercraft or amphibious aircraft. Masters of such craft are reminded to apply the normal “Rule of the Road” when they meet conventional craft on the water.
Sailing Activity
Berth Holders will encounter large numbers of sailing dinghies from late June to August in the vicinity of Lough Derg, Lough Ree and Lower Lough Erne. Cruisers should proceed at slow speed and with due caution when passing these fleets.
Rowing and Canoeing
Berth Holders should expect to meet small boats under oars either training or in competitions in the vicinity of Athlone, Tullamore, Carrick-on-Shannon and Enniskillen. Canoeists may be expected near Kilcock, Enniskillen and on the Lower Bann. Berth Holders are reminded to proceed at slow speed and reduce their wash when passing, so as not to upset these small boats.
Danger Area
The attention of Berth Holders is drawn to the Army Firing Range situated in the vicinity of buoys No’s 2 and 3, on Lough Ree.
Caution to be used in reliance upon Aids to Navigation
The aids to navigation depicted on charts comprise a system of fixed and floating aids to navigation with varying degrees of reliability. Therefore, prudent Berth Holders will not rely solely on any single aid to navigation, particularly a floating aid to navigation. With respect to buoys, the buoy symbol is used to indicate the approximate position of the buoy body and the ground tackle which secures it to the lake or river bed. The approximate position is used because of the practical limitations in positioning and maintaining buoys in precise geographical locations. These limitations include, but are not limited to, prevailing atmospheric and lake/river conditions, the slope of and the material making up the lake/river bed, the fact that the buoys are moored to varying lengths of chain, and the fact that the buoy body and/or ground tackle positions are not under continuous surveillance but are normally checked only during periodic maintenance visits. Due to the forces of nature, the position of the buoy body can be expected to shift inside and outside the charted symbol. Buoys and perches are also moved out of position by those Berth Holders who use them to moor up to instead of anchoring. Further, a cruiser attempting to pass too close to a buoy always risks collision with a yawing buoy or with the obstruction that the buoy is attempting to mark.
Marine Notices
Marine Notices are published, as necessary, to alert users to any unusual event or incident which may affect the navigation. Any user who becomes aware of a significant incident which may affect navigation is requested to contact the Inspectorate as soon as possible.