Boat Registrations & Permits

Erne System, Shannon-Erne Waterway & Shannon Navigation

All boats with an engine capacity of more than 10bhp on the Erne System and 15bhp on the Shannon-Erne Waterway and the Shannon Navigation must be registered with the Waterways Ireland Inspectorate. Registration is free of charge and can be completed by contacting the Inspectorate Office closest to you, or by downloading the Registration Form from our website www.waterwaysireland.org You will be provided with a registration number which must be displayed in a prominent position on your boat. Boats registered on the Erne System, the Shannon Navigation or the Shannon-Erne Waterway do not need to reregister when moving to another waterway.

Boat Registration Form - Shannon

Boat Registration Form - Erne System

Lower Bann Navigation

Waterways Ireland does not have a registration scheme on the Lower Bann.

Barrow Navigation, Grand Canal & Royal Canal

On the Barrow Navigation, Grand Canal and Royal Canal boats must display a valid Permit. An Annual Permit can be purchased which includes mooring and lock passage charges. For shorter periods of travel boaters can purchase monthly Mooring Permits and pay for lock passages on an individual basis.

Lock Passage € 0.60 per lock
Mooring €12.70 per month
Annual Permit €126.00 per annum

Permits can be purchased from the following Waterways Ireland locations:

Eastern Regional Office
Floor 2 Block C,
Ashtowngate,
Navan Road,
Dublin 15
Tel no +353 (0)1 868 0148

Grand Canal
Dock Superintendent at Ringsend
Tel no +353 (0)87 258 4713

Grand Canal Depot, Tullamore
Tel no +353 (0)57 935 2300

Lock-keeper at Lowtown
Tel no +353 (0)87 245 6531

Lock-keeper at Shannon Harbour
Tel no +353 (0)87 245 6587

Barrow Navigation

Lock-keeper at Fenniscourt
Tel no +353 (0)87 951 6333

Lock-keeper at Graiguenamanagh
Tel no +353 (0)87 950 8987

Royal Canal

Water Controller,
Royal Canal Locks 17 - 39
Tel no +353 (0)87 618 2104

For further information on boat registration and permits contact the Inspectorate:

Inspector of Navigation
Waterways Ireland
The Docks
Athlone
Co Westmeath
Tel no +353 (0)90 649 4232
Fax no +353 (0)90 649 4147

Assistant Inspector of Navigation
Waterways Ireland
Harbour Street
Tullamore
Co Offaly
Tel no +353 (0)57 935 2300
Fax no +353 (0)57 935 1812

Assistant Inspector of Navigation
Waterways Ireland
Sommerview House
Old Dublin Road
Carrick-on-Shannon
Co Leitrim
Tel no +353 (0)71 965 0787
Fax no +353 (0)71 962 3450

Lough Erne Warden
Waterways Ireland
2 Sligo Road
Enniskillen
Co Fermanagh
BT74 7JY
Tel no +44 (0)28 6632 2836
Fax no +44 (0)28 6634 6257