Hi Folks,

I have been to visit Richmond Harbour, Clondra over many years, since the mid 1990's in fact.

I have been through there a few times this year, sometimes by road.

The harbour does not appear to have that nice feel to it, now that it has been "cleansed". What a pity.

There is a big sign on an old warehouse wall "Thanking Waterways Ireland" for the development. Hmmm.

The five day rule is now being enforced. Waterways Ireland have set up an office there in an old cottage which used to be a pub at one time until the old man who lived there was murdered in it some years ago. That was very sad.

What I have noticed is that there is a huge big harbour hogger living there. It is a big barge of a thing at least 60 feet long. It does not appear to have moved in a very long time. It occupies a big chunk of the hard edged space in the harbour. It is a floating entertainment suite - not unlike Moonriver which plies it trade around Carrick-on-Shannon, only this yoke is smaller.

It is called "Aiseiri" or something like that and is owned by, wait for it............Waterways Ireland. So, harbour hoggers extrordanaire, Waterways Ireland, stand up and take a bow. Hypocracy or what.

WI should practice what they preach and move it out of the harbour up the line of the canal, when it is not in use, as they are encouraging/forcing other boat owners to do.

Or is there a different rule for them!

About two thirds of the hard edged quay wall on the side where the childrens playground is, has been reserved for the exclusive use of a hire boat company called "Locaboat". They hire those plastic barge shaped things called "Pennichettes" or something like that.

Now if we could only get one or two more hire boat companies to open up a base there in the harbour there would be no room for the private user.

I assume other hire boat companies would also have to be given the opportunity to likewise setup a base there in the interest of fair play and all that.

After all, such a hire base will now come with electric power supply on the shore, shower block etc for only a small charge to the hirer. There is also a nice car park as well.

Instant hire base!

One plus at least is that now, boat users don't have to wait for the lock keepers at Tarmonbarry to come over to release the padlock & chain that used to be kept on the gate. Hurrah.

Regards

Kieran

Quote:

It is called "Aiseiri" or something like that and is owned by, wait for it............Waterways Ireland. So, harbour hoggers extrordanaire, Waterways Ireland, stand up and take a bow. Hypocracy or what.
WI should practice what they preach and move it out of the harbour up the line of the canal, when it is not in use, as they are encouraging/forcing other boat owners to do.

Or is there a different rule for them!

That is an official vessel and is obviously exempt from the Bylaws. Sorry but, really this constant snipping at 'authority' is unjustified. How are the navigation authority to manage and maintain the navigation without their fleet of work boats. Be happy, it's summer and the season has started. . Hope all had a great bank holiday weekend.

OceanFroggie

who owns the sunken dredger in thomastown harbour?

Hi Kieran, I am staying in Richmond Inn from tomorrow thought i'd be down by boat but that plan went astray but I know the vessel you're on about. It's been sitting there from last year at least and I call down every so often and have yet to see anyone near it never mind using it.The previous user's of the harbour have been moved, these people brought much needed funds and vitality to the area which is now a virtual ghost town except on certain occassions when a club decides to visit. As for the boat taking up so much room with impunity I had left my own 17ft boat outside the harbour on two different weekends last year and got a nice ticket attached to it.If this boat is not being used it should be lifted or moved to a private marina and we can have a nice empty harbour to look at.Mick

Hi Folks,

Noel said,

"That is an official vessel and is obviously exempt from the Bylaws. Sorry but, really this constant snipping at 'authority' is unjustified. How are the navigation authority to manage and maintain the navigation without their fleet of work boats".

Well I am sorry to have to disagree. The vessel in question is no more a work boat than the QE2. But that type of comment from Noel is not a surprise to me anyway. Noel you are wrong on that one. At this time it has the same status as an abandoned vessel in that it has not had any recent use.

Anyway, even if it is a work boat - as it does not appear to be doing any work, common sense suggests that it should be moved out of the way to make that part of the harbour accessible to all boats that are currently moving about on the system. I suggest that ALL right minded people would agree with that.

I will try to check with Waterways Ireland tomorrow what the useage pattern has been for that vessel over the time since it was converted. I will get back to you here on this channel when I have some news.

Now I know that Noel Griffin has accused me of sniping at authority, I describe it as telling the truth. Noel is not above a bit of sniping himself when it suits him.

Anyway, we'll see.

Regards

Kieran

Hi Folks,

A quick Google bring up some sites which may well be out of date as they suggest that the boat otherwise known as 54M is located in the Athy area. The IWAI Inland Waterways News of 2002 has a story about it.

It would appear that it has been passed out by the Dept of the Marine, no less. There is also a suggestion that it has a bar.

Now Noel, would you still call it a Work Boat.

Regards

Kieran

Hi Kieran. Not sure where this is going. It was you who stated the vessel was owned by WI, not I. "and is owned by, wait for it............Waterways Ireland". It is therefore exempt and NOT an illegal harbour hogger. Sorry but to call it such is incorrect.

OceanFroggie

Kieran,

To be honest, I can't see the issue here.

Waterways finally did someting about the issue of Harbour Hoggers in Richmond Harbour (which I visited two years ago and couldn't get in to due to lack of space) and they have created room for visitors and a space for one of their own vessels.

I say well done to them, now come up to Carrick-on-Shannon and a few other areas and do the same! I'll gladly give up a space to a Waterways Ireland Barge/Bar/Work Boat/Whatever if they'd shift a few of the rotating hogs where I'm based.

Regards.

Rob

Kieran,

In fairness to WI, the Aiseiri was moored out beyond Richmond Hbr last August when I passed. Perhaps they have some good reason for it being where it is...??

Noel,

Under which bye-law are WI exempted from observing the bye-laws....?? For example, would I be required to give way to the Inis Cealtra when I'm heading downstream through Banagher Bridge, when its heading upstream...??

M(W&W)F

Noel,

Ther reason why I described it as a Waterways Ireland owned vessel is that there is a sign on it with all the normal Waterways Ireland branding, logo, colour scheme etc.

Mick,

I'll let you know the explanation for it's current location when I find out, hopefully today.

Regards

Kieran

Hi Kieran, ok if WI do not own it, and it does not have permission it is a hogger and subject to the 5 day rule, if owned by WI it is not subject to the 5 day rule and therefore not a hogger. By the sounds of things it's not causing a problem to visiting craft. WI are usually quite good at parking their own vessels in places that do not effect visiting craft (ie not in busy visitor locations). Much ado about nothing really.

OceanFroggie

Noel,

For something that is "Much ado about nothing really", it did appear to push your buttons leading you to make allegations about constant sniping at authority being unjustified.

Regards

Kieran

I have been corrected ,on this forum,in the past, for parking my boat. The correct phrase would be ,moored.

WI are to be congratulated for Richmond and Shannon Harbours. Their efforts to remove the freeloaders are to be applauded.

PJ

Quote:

Kieran Kearns
For something that is "Much ado about nothing really", it did appear to push your buttons leading you to make allegations about constant sniping at authority being unjustified.

Sorry to respectfully disagree


But very happy for you to have the last word kind sir.

OceanFroggie

PJ,

What's a "Freeloader", as you put it?

Regards

Kieran

Kieran, Freeloaders are hoggers who hold all the good spots in Shannon Harbour and elsewhere on the system.They refuse to move from hard edged moorings ,eventhough they have been requested to ,by WI. Many of them don't even buy an annual permit. If they do go out for a trip ,don't you dare take their berths.You will get an earful ,if you do. "This is my berth.I've been here fifteen years",is a comment I've heard.

They are solely responsible for the changes in mooring laws ,on the canals,which are coming down the line and which will result in charges for soft edge moorings. I understand soft edge morrings will be allocated .

PJ



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/06/2012 22:38 by pjnorris1.

PJ,

Agree with you on the issue those who have "Claimed their spot" - totally wrong on their part.

Those without a permit - also totally wrong on their part.

When you say - "changes in mooring laws ,on the canals,which are coming down the line and which will result in charges for soft edge moorings. I understand soft edge morrings will be allocated", where are you hearing this from?

Is there an official dialogue going on with WI and IWAI and if so are you part of any such delegation? If so, what branches of IWAI are involved in these discussions?

I remember back in 2010 there was some discussion going on with WI on draft changes that were being proposed to the current byelaws. There was also talk of vessels all having to display very large numbers/names as I recall. I understood that "Conversation" had been suspended.

Am I wrong?

Regards

Kieran

Regards

Kieran



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/06/2012 13:06 by Kieran Kearns.

Our local town just spent a small fortune buying land at the rear of the main st, they then spent a second fortune building a lovely car park, car park is now full of shop owners, main st busineses know the importance of leaving room for others, the main st now has plenty of room for tourists to stop and shop and enjoy the town rather than just mearly think what a nice town as they pass on through.

Jeepers lads , y'd think yis would give the snipping and whinging a break for the Summer season at least....Have ye nothing better to be doing in this fine weather but beating the living daylights out of yr poor keyboards. If there's complaining to be done about hoggers I would think WI's boats are the least of yr worries.

Its Summer time, get back on yer boats, enjoy yourselves while ye can. After all, only 16 more days left until the days will be getting shorter again...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/06/2012 23:26 by Richard Ellis.

UPDATE:

I spoke to a nice lady in Waterways Ireland last week, who listened to my queries. She said that she had written them down and would make some enquiries of her own and get back to me, which she did.

She advised me that she could confirm that the said vessel was in fact a Waterways Ireland owned work boat, but was in fact unable to tell me much more that, other than to say that it was not likely to be used as a muck barge. She said that she would get "someone" to contact me to provide the answers to my other questions.

Yesterday, in the afternoon, I received a telephone call from a nice man in Waterways Ireland "Operations" division. He confirmed to me that the boat would be moved out of the harbour, back up the line of the canal somewhere, by the weekend. He went on to say that it had been placed there for an "Inspection" and that it was easier for the fitters to get on and off where it was moored. I asked was the inspection going to require the use of the dry dock there at Richmond Harbour. He advised me that it would not, that it was the cooling system that needed to be inspected.

When I asked any other questions about that "Asset", the nice man said that I would have to talk to "Someone" in the Waterways Ireland "Marketing/PR Department".

Information regarding the responsibility for the day to day operation of that yoke, future plans for it etc is proving difficult to get.

So, I am taking his advice and writing to the reccomended section with my list of questions and will report back here, to anyone who wishes to know more.

Remember, if this thread is not for you, please do not respond with uncivil/rude comment, just don't follow it any further.

Thanks.

Regards

Kieran



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 14/06/2012 13:58 by Kieran Kearns.