Issued 09.10.09

Waterways Ireland Continues Investment in the Shannon Navigation

Waterways Ireland is going on site in October 2009 with an investment in replacement jetties on the Shannon Navigation at Albert Lock. Albert Lock is the busiest lock on the Shannon Navigation with over 11,000 boat passages annually.

The existing fixed wooden jetties will be replaced with 120m of composite fibre reinforced floating jetties, fixed to circular steel piles. The new jetties will facilitate improved mooring at the lock and provide waiting facilities for the high number of boats passing through the lock in the summer season. The floating jetties will allow the facilities to be used throughout the year, regardless of fluctuating water levels. New jetties will be linked to the shore with a landing ramp. The path from the carpark, the landing ramp and jetties will be fully accessible.

The Albert Lock floating jetties costing €200,000(including VAT) form part of an ongoing programme of maintenance and improvement work taking place all along the navigations.

The project has been designed, commissioned and implemented by Waterways Ireland.

Ends Word count 129