High Rain Fall and ARDNACRUSHA - 09 August 2007

Advice from Noel Griffin re transiting Limerick:

Due to the excessive rain fall in the past month Ardnacrusha are running at winter loadings. Typically all four turbines are running 16hrs a day. This renders the Limerick navigation practically impassible when 4 turbines are running, so anybody thinking of heading down ring the lock keeper, or Pat Lysaght in Limerick, or ESB Hydro in Turlough hill to check loading schedule before heading up or downstream through Limerick.

1. Flow at Killaloe bridge is very fast at winter flooding levels
2. Mooring at public quay beside Molly's is difficulty especially near the bridge
3. Abbey river flow is at max from about 0800am in the morning till midnight
4. Suggest only passing through Limerick before 0900am when it is possible only one turbine will be running (but phone ESB to check)
5. Do NOT attempt to manoeuvre around hunt jetties in Limerick if 4 turbines are running
6. If coming up the estuary with the tide into Limerick during the middle of the day it is likely all 4 turbines are running, so suggest mooring at Arthurs Quay or the wier side of the Hunt jetties due to the excessive flow. Do NOT attempt to go around the outside of the hunt jetties to get to the inside fingers if 4 turbines are running.
7. Suggest over-nighting in Limerick if transiting from estuary and then proceed up to Killaloe early in the morning (ie between 0600am and 0800am tidal airdraft permitting) when it is likely only one turbine is running.
8. Essential to check times of HW (ie high tide) in Limerick to ascertain what times your boat will easily fit under limerick bridges with a good safety margin for easier steerage.
9. IMHO, anybody passing through Limerick should contact Pat Lysaght at 086 8487042. Pat is a gentleman and can offer advice and assistance to boats. Often Pat can meet you at Ardnacrusha in his dory boat may guide boats through Limerick (ie unofficial Limerick pilot). The Lough Derg branch made a presentation to Pat last May in recognition of his assistance to IWAI boats over the years.

Due to the winter flooding levels, some vessels have been damaged recently attempting to navigate when too many turbines have been running. But pick the right time and the Abbey river can still be a "mill pond" and easy to navigate.

Folks, this post is not intended to frighten people off the Limerick navigation, it is only the freak weather and flooding so untypical at this time of year that has made things more difficult this July and August so far. Normally at summer levels the ESB run ZERO or only ONE turbine when getting up and down to Limerick is safe, easy and enjoyable.

17 IWAI boats made it safely through Limerick on route down the estuary to Killrush last weekend (August 4/5/6) by picking times when only 1 turbine was running, so it's possible to do it safely. The ESB are also to be thanked for facilitating a safe passage by reducing the load last Saturday by prior arrangement. I went down myself on Sunday and returned back up on Tuesday.

Noel

(This information was first posted on the IWAI mailing list/discussion forum)