WATERWAYS IRELAND GOOD BOATING GUIDE

Waterways Ireland is the navigation authority for over 1000km of inland waterways in Ireland, namely the Shannon-Erne Waterway, the Erne System, the Grand Canal, the Barrow Navigation, the Lower Bann Navigation, the Royal Canal and the Shannon Navigation.

The Waterways Ireland Office of the Inspectorate of Navigation is responsible for enforcing the navigational bye-laws, maintaining a register of vessels and carrying out inspection and monitoring of Waterway's Ireland harbours and jetties to ensure that they are used and kept in a safe and responsible manner.

The Inspectorate carry out regular patrols of the waterways by road and water. Any irresponsible behaviour or poor boatmanship encountered is immediately brought to the attention of the owner of the craft. Craft speeding within speed restriction areas are similarly dealt with.

The Waterways Ireland Inspectorate of Navigation is happy to advise boat users on navigational matters and provide information on boat registration and the bye-laws. The Inspectorate of Navigation can be contacted at +353 90 6494232 (Athlone) or +44 28 66322836 (Enniskillen).

As an aid to boat and craft owners, Waterways Ireland has produced a "Good Boating Guide" which includes guidelines on operating craft on Waterways Ireland's Navigations. This guide is available to download free of charge from the "Safety on the Water" section of the Waterways Ireland website at www.waterwaysireland.org or by calling the Marketing and Communications Division of Waterways Ireland at +44 28 66346219 (Enniskillen) or +353 71 9650787 (Carrick on Shannon).

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Further information from:
Ms. Aoife Morrissy, Marketing and Communications, Waterways Ireland,
00 353 71 9650787 or 00 353 87 9918412.

Date: 05.05.2006
PR06008