Waterways Ireland to Open Remaining Extended Mooring Locations & Warns of Bye-law Enforcement.
Since November 2012 Waterways Ireland has offered Boaters on the Grand Canal, Barrow Navigation and Royal Canal a new Extended Mooring Permit which enables the boat to remain in a single location for more than five days. Extended Mooring Locations have been offered at two week intervals until the 4th March when the final 2013 locations will open. In total, 68 Extended Mooring Locations will have been offered across urban and rural locations on the three waterways. Each location has multiple moorings available; more than ample space for every boat currently on the system should all wish to apply. More locations are being prepared should demand increase.
Applications for the last set of locations begin on March 4th 2013. On the Barrow extended mooring locations will open at Moneybeg, Co Carlow and Lowtown, Co Kildare and on the Grand Canal at Derrymullen, Ticknevin and Allenwood Middle also in Co Kildare.
The Extended Mooring Permit (E.MP) application process is simple using a form that can be downloaded from www.waterwaysireland.org or sent out by post from Waterways Ireland Tullamore (Tel no 057 9352300). The permit costs €152. Allocation of extended mooring locations is on a first come, first served basis. A Combined Mooring and Passage Permit(CMP) must be held by all craft. For boats without a CMP (€126) the single application form may be completed for one or both permits.
Enforcement of the mooring Bye-laws on the Barrow Navigation, Grand Canal and Royal Canal will begin on 19th March 2013. A Marine Notice will be issued to this effect. A CMP (and if mooring more than five days in a single location, an EMP,) must be applied for in advance of the 19th March 2013 and be on display on the boat by the 31st March 2013.
The enforcement process will begin with non-permitted, sunken and abandoned boats already on the three waterways. The first step in the enforcement process is notification but continued non-compliance may result in the craft being removed from the navigation at the owners cost.
More information is available from Shane Anderson, Assistant Inspector of Navigation: Tel no +353 (0)87 286 5726, Email shane.anderson@waterwaysireland.org .
