New byelaws for the Shannon

A well-attended public meeting about new byelaws for using the Shannon waterway took place at the Killaloe Hotel last week.

Waterways Ireland hosted the meeting as part of a public consultation on draft revisions to the Shannon Navigation Byelaws, and also the Grand and Royal Canal and Barrow Navigation Byelaws.

Among those in attendance were representatives of local organisations and clubs that regularly use the waterway, as well as individual boat owners. Executive members of Waterways Ireland were present to discuss the many issues raised. Their bottom line was that the draft byelaws are “not set in stone” and that anyone with concerns should lodge a submission.

Byelaws taking account of the issues raised in the submissions are to be published again at the end of this year or early next year.

One of the most contentious issues raised at the meeting was the introduction of an annual registration fee of €200.

This will be required every year for vessels with an engine of more than 30hp to cruise the Shannon (it also includes the Royal Canal, Grand Canal, Barrow Line and Navigation).

Those present were informed that certain purposes of vessel, such as search & recovery craft, as well as rowing, sailing or angling boats (less than 30hp), would be exempt from the fee.

The fee is intended to cover the cost of providing and maintaining services on the Shannon, such as berthing, toilet and shower facilities.

But a number of those present made the point that many boats have their own toilets and showers, and other boat users are already paying for key cards to access such facilities at areas where they are available.

Concern was raised that the charge might discourage people from visiting the Shannon and the shops, restaurants and other businesses along it.

Éanna Rowe, Operations Controller, Waterways Ireland, said the necessity to have a registration may reduce or eliminate the large number of boats that are left abandoned on the Shannon. Revenue generated from the fee would be reinvested into improving services and facilities on the navigation.

PROHIBITION ON SWIMMING

Also among the issues debated was whether Waterways Ireland would have the resources to police such new proposals as a prohibition on bathing or swimming in any lock, harbour or dock on the navigation, without permission from the waterway authority. Similarly, the proposed byelaws prohibit the holding of events on the navigation without permission from Waterways Ireland.

The new byelaws also prohibit underwater diving on the Shannon Navigation without permission from Waterways Ireland. Those in attendance at last week’s meeting were told that an application for permission could be made to the authority and that it would be processed within three working days.

Waterways Ireland may designate and zone areas for use by specific types of vessels and other water activities, as deemed fit by the authority, under the draft byelaws. Waterways Ireland may prohibit the use of specific types of vessel in a specified area for a specified period as it deems fit.

‘HARBOUR HOGGING’

Another key aspect of the draft byelaws is new restrictions on the length of time a vessel can remain berthed in a particular area. These proposals are aimed at deterring "hogging" of harbour space at busy sites, including Killaloe, Terryglass and Portumna Castle Harbour.

No boat or vessel will be allowed berth at any harbour, lay-by, wharf, quay, pier or other landing place, or other property of Waterways Ireland, at these locations for more than three consecutive days, or more than a total of five days in any one calendar month, without the permission of the Waterways Ireland.

For all other harbours, the existing five consecutive day rule will continue. These mooring periods are to apply to all months of the year.

"We believe this is a fair compromise," Mr Rows stated. "It will reduce congestion and benefit the local economies by having more throughput of visitors."

Those present at last week’s meeting were informed that winter mooring would be "abolished" under the new proposals; so too would lock passage fees.

"Approximately 150 vessels are moored during the winter months, many in very popular locations and many of them remain beyond the period allowed," Mr Rowe stated. "This makes it almost impossible for other people to avail of these moorings while using the navigations in the winter period.

"Additionally, winter moorings provided on public jetties undercuts the private sector, and finally the boats using winter moorings also tend to harbour hog in the summer, reducing the possibility of local economic benefit of visitors on touring boats who can’t access the harbour."

YOUNG PEOPLE AND SPEED

Amid a raft of new byelaws in relation to health and safety is a requirement for the masters of vessels capable of a water speed of 17 knots or more to "take all reasonable steps to ensure" that persons under the age of 16 do not operate such craft. Persons under the age of 12 are not to operate vessels powered by an engine with a rating of more than 5hp or 3.7 kilowatts.

The draft byelaws also make it obligatory to have a minimum of third party insurance for boats on the Shannon.

A fixed penalty notice of €150 is proposed for breaching of the byelaws.

Mr Rowe made the point that the existing byelaws are 30 years old and in need of an overhaul. "Our waterways are a wonderful - natural and manmade - asset that belong to everybody", Mr Rowe said. "Those that stroll along them, the communities that live near them, those that care about protecting them for current and future generations, visitors and of course those that boat and live on our navigations, will all be positively impacted by these byelaw changes."

The draft byelaws are available in full on the Waterways Ireland website. Submissions can be made up to October 2.