The Shannon Navigation Bye-Laws and the Shannon Navigation (Construction of Vessels) Bye Laws are contained in Statutory Instruments Nos. 79 and 80 of 1992. These may be purchased for a small fee from the Government Publication Sales Office, Molesworth St., Dublin 2. An abridged list of the main Bye Laws are set out below. These are also printed on the Shannon Navigation Charts.

NAVIGATION

1. Always keep to the marked channel.

Red On Left Going upstream and into bays & harbours. Green On Right
Green On Left Going downstream and out of bays & harbours. Red On Left

2. Keep a good distance off all navigation markers. Keep clear of weirs.

3. When meeting an approaching vessel, keep to the right of the channel so that you pass each other on the left-hand side.

4. If you meet a vessel crossing from your right and there is a danger of collision, you must give way.

5. When overtaking leave the other vessel on your right hand side. You must keep out of its way when doing so and it must leave you sufficient room to overtake.

6. Keep to the marked navigation arch when negotiating bridges. Use the arch to your right when more than one arch is available.

7. When going upstream at a bridge, give way to vessels coming downstream.

8. You must give way to vessels under sail.

9. Keep a good lookout and navigate with care, caution and reasonable consideration of others.

10. It is an offence to navigate when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

11. It is an offence to exceed 5 km per hour within 200m of a bridge or jetty and within 100m of a lock, harbour, moored vessel or in a canal. Reduce speed when passing swimmers, anglers and small boats. *

12. ALL passengers must wear a PFD (personal flotation device) at all times while in on board the vessel. **

* Recommended cruising speed on the lake:4-5 knots
** The minimum life jacket size provided by the company is 10 kg (maximum 1 per boat). Other life jackets are designed for weights of 30 kg and above.