When will Irish marinas open to visiting British (Scottish) yachts?

[webcraft]

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Am planning a voyage down the Irish Sea at the end of the month and cannot get any information as to whether marinas and harbours both sides of the border are likely to be open to visiting yachts.

Any of our Irish posters with their fingers on the pulse?

- W

 

[Slowtack]

Check out www.sailing.ie for Marine Notice No 22 of 2020. The locator form is current requirement. You probably also need to contact the marinas you intend visiting.

 

[dunedin]

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Am planning a voyage down the Irish Sea at the end of the month and cannot get any information as to whether marinas and harbours both sides of the border are likely to be open to visiting yachts.

Any of our Irish posters with their fingers on the pulse?
- W

Surprised you are finding it difficult to get information. I phoned ahead to a couple of marinas in Northern Ireland and they were very helpful.

As you know, Northern Ireland was the first U.K. place allowing staying on boa d from 26th June. The summary on the Cruising Association site seems relevant and clear - “Staying on board yachts now permitted, and key marinas (including Bangor, Carrickfergus and Glenarm) are now welcoming visiting yachts. It would be worth checking ahead with smaller marinas and harbours.” CA

Further South is currently more of an issue, currently subject to 14 day quarantine - a recent Irish Marine Federation bulletin stated .....

“The arrival of personal non-national maritime leisure vessels is banned (with exceptions such as 'port in a storm').

The measures above are reflected in the regulations under the Health
(Preservation and Protection and Other Emergency Measures in the Public
Interest) Act 2020 and will be enforced by An Garda Síochána._
Important to note that the harbour of refuge does not include access to
shoreside facilities. In reality it means a night at anchor or on a
mooring buoy due to storm conditions. Fuel, water, victualling etc.risks
cross contamination and is not permissible.

All persons arriving by sea must comply with Marine Notice No.6 of 2020

Strict quarantining for 14 days is also currently in effect.

Vessels of Irish ownership and those resident in Northern Ireland are exempt from the above and there are no restrictions currently for these vessels.

The next phase of reopening the country is 20th July we await any changes that will apply then.”

PS. If you are seriously asking about Covid status for the end of the month, then you are perhaps being a bit unrealistic. It will either be all open almost everywhere in Europe, or local places closing down again due to second spikes. Choose your own probabilities. But asking 4 weeks ahead is not the way this stuff works.

 

[Quandary]

In Nrn Irn they are open but asking for prebooking, hours are restricted as are facilities, you can find a list of contact phone numbers for Glenarm, Carrick, Bangor, etc. on the 'Tobermory harbour is open thread'. But as Dunedin points out the situation is quite fluid just now and could go either way in a month.

 

[black mercury]

Update from Bangor Marina – Friday 3rd July 2020

Northern Ireland's hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafes can reopen from today after months of closure. Pubs and bars must serve food and operate on a table service basis; those pubs that do not serve food will be allowed to sell alcohol outdoors.

Visitor attractions such as museums and heritage sites can also reopen from today including the Marble Arch Caves in Fermanagh and the Giant's Causeway on the north coast.

Our Executive has announced that face coverings will become mandatory on public transport from Friday 10th July. This move comes as part of the recovery process from Covid-19, to support efforts to reduce the risk of transmission. From this date passengers travelling on most bus, train and ferry services in Northern Ireland will be required to wear a face covering.

Updated from Northern Ireland Marinas and Harbours – Friday 3rd July 2020

Bangor Marina – open to resident and visiting boat owners – overnighting allowed

Carrickfergus Marina - open to resident and visiting boat owners – overnighting allowed

Glenarm Marina - open to resident and visiting boat owners – overnighting allowed

Belfast Marina - open to resident and visiting boat owners – overnighting allowed

Portrush & Ballycastle - open to resident and visiting boat owners – overnighting allowed – please book in advance.

Portaferry Marina – open to resident and visiting boat owners – overnighting allowed

Ardglass Marina - open to resident and visiting boat owners – overnighting allowed, the amenities building remains closed for the time being.

Northern Ireland Islands

Rathlin – Open to resident and visiting boat owners, ferry service operating from today, all passenger to wear face coverings.

Copeland Island - Closed, no landing, residents only.

Updated from Isle of Man – Friday 3rd July 2020

Peel, Ramsay, Port St Mary, Castletown, Port Erin, Douglas, Laxey, Derby Haven – Isle of Man borders remain closed.

Vessels may transit through IOM waters and lie at anchor but you are not permitted to go ashore – you will be put into quarantine which is strictly enforced.










Thank you,

Kevin Baird

Harbour Master

Got this from Bangor. All facilities are open to visiting boats from UK.

 

[webcraft]

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RE. the Locator form:

The following passengers arriving from outside of Ireland are not required to complete this
form:
 passengers arriving from Northern Ireland

So - if you arrive at (eg) Howth after leaving Ardglass, are you counted as having arrived from Northern Ireland?

Like most Covid-19 regulations this seems as clear as mud.

I emailed both Howth and Kilmore Quay, but neither have responded.

Looks like it might be anchoring after NI unless the Republic eases its current restrictions.

- W

 

[dunedin]

.
RE. the Locator form:

The following passengers arriving from outside of Ireland are not required to complete this
form:
 passengers arriving from Northern Ireland

So - if you arrive at (eg) Howth after leaving Ardglass, are you counted as having arrived from Northern Ireland?

Like most Covid-19 regulations this seems as clear as mud.

I emailed both Howth and Kilmore Quay, but neither have responded.

Looks like it might be anchoring after NI unless the Republic eases its current restrictions.

- W

Refer again to post #3 above - “Vessels of Irish ownership and those resident in Northern Ireland are exempt from the above and there are no restrictions currently for these vessels.”
I don’t think a Scottish based boat would qualify just because they stopped at Ardglass.

 

[awol]

I like the restriction to "visiting boat owners". Should keep those pesky charter boats away.

 

[Telstar26]

Looks as if restrictions may be eased on 20 July, according to this interview

Irish authorities require anyone coming into the Republic of Ireland, apart from those from Northern Ireland, to self-isolate for 14 days.
That advice remains in place until 20 July.
...
Mr Martin said he hoped the Irish government would publish a "green list" on 20 July that would indicate which countries could be safe for travellers, with a lower risk of the virus spreading.

I hope that Wales and Scotland will be on the "green list", even if England's not!