CANAL BOATS ON THE GRAND CANAL
CANAL BOATS OR BARGES ON THE GRAND CANAL [PORTOBELLO AREA OF DUBLIN]
In the Portobello Area of Dublin I noticed at least two canal boats or barges that appear to be permanently moored.
Canal Boats in Dublin: Rules, Conditions, and Fees
The inland waterways in Ireland, including the Grand Canal in Dublin, are managed by Waterways Ireland. They have a permit system for boat owners, with different types of permits depending on how you intend to use the boat.
Here are the main types of permits relevant to permanently moored boats, and their associated conditions and fees (as per recent information, though these can change, so always verify with Waterways Ireland):
Combined Mooring Permit (CMP):
Cost: €126 per year (as of a 2022 report).
Conditions: Allows the holder to pass through locks and to moor at the same public mooring for up to five days in any one location. This is generally for recreational use and not for permanent mooring.
Non-Residential Extended Mooring Permit (NR-EMP):
Cost: €278 per year (includes the cost of a CMP).
Conditions: Allows the holder to moor in an approved allocated location for up to one year. It does not confer residential status, meaning the boat cannot be used as a primary residence. You may stay overnight for up to 90 days annually.
Residential Extended Mooring Permit (R-EMP):
Cost: €278 per annum plus a service charge of €300 per annum (as of a 2022 report). Note that there have been reports of proposed significant fee increases for residential moorings in some areas like Grand Canal Dock (e.g., from €578 to €4,000, rising to €7,500 over six years), so it's crucial to check the latest fees directly with Waterways Ireland, especially for specific popular locations.
Conditions: Entitles the boat owner and their immediate family to reside on their boat for 12 months of the year, subject to certain conditions. This is the permit required if you intend to live on your boat full-time.
General Conditions for all Permits:
Display of Permit: You must display the permit clearly on the outside of your vessel.
Insurance: Evidence of insurance is typically required.
Navigational Rules (Bye-laws): All boat owners must adhere to the navigational bye-laws, including speed limits (e.g., 3.2 knots on the Grand Canal, often lower in confined areas or near moored boats), and rules about wash and wake.
Maintenance: Boats need to be kept well-maintained, and there are requirements for periodic dry-docking for hull checks and painting.
Services: Access to facilities like water, sewage pump-out, and refuse collection will depend on the specific mooring location. Some residential moorings, like those at Grand Canal Dock, offer more comprehensive services.
To obtain a permit or get the most up-to-date information, you should contact Waterways Ireland directly. They have an online application system for permits.
"Narrow Boats" vs. Irish Canals and Boats: Why the Difference?
The term "Narrow Boat" is primarily used in the UK, and Irish canals often appear wider. This difference is rooted in the history and design of the respective canal networks.
UK Narrowboats and Canals: The vast majority of the British canal network was built with very narrow locks, typically around 7 feet (2.13 metres) wide. This necessitated the distinctive design of the "narrowboat," which is usually no more than 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 metres) wide to ensure it can navigate the entire system. These canals were primarily built during the Industrial Revolution to transport goods efficiently across a dense, often hilly, landscape, requiring many narrow locks to manage elevation changes.
Irish Canals and Boats: Irish canals, such as the Grand Canal and Royal Canal, were generally designed to be wider from their inception.
Grand Canal Lock Dimensions: The Grand Canal locks typically have a beam (width) of 3.9 metres (approximately 12 feet 9 inches) and a length of 18.5 metres (approximately 60 feet 8 inches). The draft is usually around 1.2 metres (3 feet 11 inches), although it can be shallower in Dublin (1 metre).
Royal Canal Lock Dimensions: The Royal Canal locks are similar, with a beam of 3.9 metres (12 feet 9 inches) and a length of 21 metres (68 feet 10 inches).
Historical Context: Irish canals were often built with a view to connecting major rivers and lakes, such as the Shannon Navigation, and accommodating larger barges for broader trade. The geography and the period of their construction also played a role. While still designed for inland navigation, they weren't constrained by the same narrow design standards as much of the UK network. Therefore, the boats found on Irish canals are typically wider than British narrowboats, often referred to simply as "barges" or "canal boats" in Ireland, rather than the specific term "narrowboat."
In essence, the differing lock dimensions reflect different historical priorities and geographical considerations in the development of the two countries' canal networks.
In the Portobello Area of Dublin I noticed at least two canal boats or barges that appear to be permanently moored.
Canal Boats in Dublin: Rules, Conditions, and Fees
The inland waterways in Ireland, including the Grand Canal in Dublin, are managed by Waterways Ireland. They have a permit system for boat owners, with different types of permits depending on how you intend to use the boat.
Here are the main types of permits relevant to permanently moored boats, and their associated conditions and fees (as per recent information, though these can change, so always verify with Waterways Ireland):
Combined Mooring Permit (CMP):
Cost: €126 per year (as of a 2022 report).
Conditions: Allows the holder to pass through locks and to moor at the same public mooring for up to five days in any one location. This is generally for recreational use and not for permanent mooring.
Non-Residential Extended Mooring Permit (NR-EMP):
Cost: €278 per year (includes the cost of a CMP).
Conditions: Allows the holder to moor in an approved allocated location for up to one year. It does not confer residential status, meaning the boat cannot be used as a primary residence. You may stay overnight for up to 90 days annually.
Residential Extended Mooring Permit (R-EMP):
Cost: €278 per annum plus a service charge of €300 per annum (as of a 2022 report). Note that there have been reports of proposed significant fee increases for residential moorings in some areas like Grand Canal Dock (e.g., from €578 to €4,000, rising to €7,500 over six years), so it's crucial to check the latest fees directly with Waterways Ireland, especially for specific popular locations.
Conditions: Entitles the boat owner and their immediate family to reside on their boat for 12 months of the year, subject to certain conditions. This is the permit required if you intend to live on your boat full-time.
General Conditions for all Permits:
Display of Permit: You must display the permit clearly on the outside of your vessel.
Insurance: Evidence of insurance is typically required.
Navigational Rules (Bye-laws): All boat owners must adhere to the navigational bye-laws, including speed limits (e.g., 3.2 knots on the Grand Canal, often lower in confined areas or near moored boats), and rules about wash and wake.
Maintenance: Boats need to be kept well-maintained, and there are requirements for periodic dry-docking for hull checks and painting.
Services: Access to facilities like water, sewage pump-out, and refuse collection will depend on the specific mooring location. Some residential moorings, like those at Grand Canal Dock, offer more comprehensive services.
To obtain a permit or get the most up-to-date information, you should contact Waterways Ireland directly. They have an online application system for permits.
"Narrow Boats" vs. Irish Canals and Boats: Why the Difference?
The term "Narrow Boat" is primarily used in the UK, and Irish canals often appear wider. This difference is rooted in the history and design of the respective canal networks.
UK Narrowboats and Canals: The vast majority of the British canal network was built with very narrow locks, typically around 7 feet (2.13 metres) wide. This necessitated the distinctive design of the "narrowboat," which is usually no more than 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 metres) wide to ensure it can navigate the entire system. These canals were primarily built during the Industrial Revolution to transport goods efficiently across a dense, often hilly, landscape, requiring many narrow locks to manage elevation changes.
Irish Canals and Boats: Irish canals, such as the Grand Canal and Royal Canal, were generally designed to be wider from their inception.
Grand Canal Lock Dimensions: The Grand Canal locks typically have a beam (width) of 3.9 metres (approximately 12 feet 9 inches) and a length of 18.5 metres (approximately 60 feet 8 inches). The draft is usually around 1.2 metres (3 feet 11 inches), although it can be shallower in Dublin (1 metre).
Royal Canal Lock Dimensions: The Royal Canal locks are similar, with a beam of 3.9 metres (12 feet 9 inches) and a length of 21 metres (68 feet 10 inches).
Historical Context: Irish canals were often built with a view to connecting major rivers and lakes, such as the Shannon Navigation, and accommodating larger barges for broader trade. The geography and the period of their construction also played a role. While still designed for inland navigation, they weren't constrained by the same narrow design standards as much of the UK network. Therefore, the boats found on Irish canals are typically wider than British narrowboats, often referred to simply as "barges" or "canal boats" in Ireland, rather than the specific term "narrowboat."
In essence, the differing lock dimensions reflect different historical priorities and geographical considerations in the development of the two countries' canal networks.