Equipment
All craft should
by identifiable by a name or number and have sufficient equipment for the
journey aboard including at a minimum:
Seaworthy craft, Informed
crew, lifejackets for all crew, engine check, adequate fuel, paddles / oars,
bow, stern and spring lines,
bailer, anchor, spare
anchor, fenders, vhf radio, flares and a first aid kit
Rights of Way / International Rules for Collision at Sea
Give way to:
·
Vessels not under command
·
Vessels restricted in ability
to manoeuvre
·
Vessels constrained by draft
·
Vessels engaged in fishing
·
Vessels with divers operating
on site
·
Commercial vessels
·
Sailing vessels
The speed limit
on the rivers is 8 mph / 11 kmph and on the canals is 4mph / 6kmph
Mooring
Take
rising and dropping tides into account when mooring craft onto a fixed point of
contact. Spring lines secure the boat and reduce broadside movement. Use
adequate fenders in anticipation of wakes from other boats, a swell on the water
etc.
When mooring or anchoring, approach the mooring buoy, pontoon or point of drop
against the strongest element (i.e. the tide and / or wind) to slow the craft
down and avoid an impact / allow time to pick up a mooring.
Direction of Bouyage
(Port = Left, Starboard = Right)
·
Follow
the direction of buoyage: when travelling up a river, keep the port hand buoys
(red) to the left and the starboard hand (green) to the right
·
Otherwise, keep to the
starboard side of the channel and
overtake with
due caution on the port
side
The
cardinal marks highlight obstructions to navigation and indicate which side of
the mark to travel. For example, keep south of the south cardinal mark. Marks
can be identified by their top mark, their colour (often hard to distinguish)
and their lights. VQ (6) + L Fl. = 6 very quick flashes followed by 1 long
flash.
Isolated danger mark |
Safe water mark |
Special mark |
These marks
are always coloured as above with the same top marks, but the overall shape
can be pillar or spar shaped. |
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Locks
To descend:
-
Close / lower the racks on the lower gates
-
Open / raise the racks on the upper gates
-
When full, open the upper gate and move the boat in
-
Close the upper gates and racks
-
Ensure lines are hand held and the boat will not snag as it drops
-
Open the lower gate racks to empty the chamber
To ascend:
-
Close / lower the racks on the upper gates
-
Open / raise the racks on the lower gates
-
When empty, open the lower gate and move the boat in
-
Close the lower gates and racks
-
Ensure lines are hand held and the boat will not snag as it rises
-
Open the upper gate racks, one at a time or partially at first to control the
flow of water into the chamber
·
There is a
charge of €0.60 per lock. Permits are available from Lock Keeper
Mob: +
353 (0)87 9508987
Ballykeenan – St. Mullins locks.
·
It is useful to
have your own key - a crank with a 3cm square hollow section and essential to
have two mooring lines, fenders and a boat hook for travelling through the
locks.
·
Do not tie up at
locks, bridges or obstruct the navigation.
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