This section contains safety brochures about inland waterways, information on the law regarding inland waterways and advice on navigation on the river Shannon.

Safe Boating on the inland waters booklet (pdf)

How to reduce machinery failures on recreational craft (pdf)

GMDSS marine radio guidelines brochure for small craft users in Europe (pdf)

Leaflet on Personal Flotation Devices (pdf)

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All these brochures are available from the Coast Guard by contacting:

Coast Guard Administration
Department of Transport
Leeson Lane
Dublin 2.
Tel: +353 1 678 3427
Fax: +353 1 678 3459
Email: admin@irishcoastguard.ie

The law on the inland waterways and canal systems

Shannon Navigation Act and Associated Byelaws

Waterways Ireland has responsibility for navigable inland waterways north and south.  This includes the river Shannon, the Royal and Grand Canals and the river Barrow.

Relevant legislation for the Shannon system:

· Shannon Navigation Act 1990
· Shannon Navigation (Construction of Vessels) Bye-laws 1992 S.I. No 79 of 1992
· Shannon Navigation Bye-laws 1992 S.I. No 80 of 1992

The above legislation applies to any recreational craft based on the Shannon waterway, including lakes and tributaries.

S.I. No 79 of 1992, specifically refers to vessel construction requirements, safety equipment required to be carried, engine installations, LPG and cooker installations. S.I. No 80 of 1992, defines authorised officers and their powers, speed limits, maximum drafts, rules of navigation, crewing levels, use of facilities, and groundings.

All vessels operating on the waterways must be registered.

A vessel is defined as any craft that is not:
· An open boat or undecked punt
· Canoe
· Row boat
· Boat propelled primarily by oars or sail
· Not propelled by engine greater that 15 hp

The bye-laws were amended in 1994 to prevent the discharge of sewage directly into the navigation from any vessel.

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Navigation on Shannon

The Shannon Navigation Bye-laws (S.I 80 of 1992) identify the rules to be followed by craft navigating the Shannon waterways.

While similar in content to the COLREGS, there are a number of additional specific rules that apply.

· Vessels shall not run abreast or overtake in any part of the navigation less than 13m in width.

· Vessels navigating with the stream, shall be given precedence fro passage through a bridge, by those craft navigating against the stream of the river.

· Boats should keep to the starboard side of the fairway passing port to port.

· A craft proceeding upstream must give way to those going downstream.

· Speed limits are to be adhered to as laid down in the Bye-laws.

· On entering the Shannon Navigation, the direction of Buoyage is Northwards.

Buoys, Beacons and Perches are painted Red on the Port hand, and Black on Starboard hand when proceeding upstream. Navigation marks are not lit on the Shannon.

Canal System Navigation

Navigation is controlled by Bye-laws passed under the Canals Act 1986.