Jet ski operators, who drive at excessive speed on Lough Derg, are putting the lives of swimmers at risk, Killaloe Coast Guard has warned.
Killaloe Coast Guard was tasked to assist local gardai deal with jet skis being operated at dangerous speeds near Killaloe Bridge on Monday and Tuesday.
A number of vessels were requested to return to the relevant slipways and the owners were spoken to by Gardai.
A Coast Guard spokesman told the Clare Champion that some jet ski operators were driving at speed of up to 60 kilometres an hour near Killaloe Bridge in a speed limit area of about five kilometres.
He said some jet skis were doing “doughnuts”, which is akin to doing a hand break turn on the water, which in turn creates a backwash that causes issues for boats being knocked against jetties and swimmers.
During periods of hot weather, he said large numbers of young teenagers are congregating and swimmers off the pontoon on the Ballina side of the bridge near the Washerwoman’s Bridge.
If a jet ski operator driving at high speed lost control near this pontoon, he warned the results could be disastrous, resulting in serious injury or loss or life.
The Coast Guard can advise any jet ski operator who is driving to fast too return to the slipway where Killaloe Gardaí have the power to take appropriate action if necessary.
Following a conversation with Coast Guard members, a group of young men who were with the jet ski driver left the area.
Killaloe Coast Guard have been called out to to assist local gardai deal with jet skis being operated at excessive speeds four times in as many weeks this year – the same number of call outs dealing with this issue for all of 2021.
The Coast Guard had to deal with three different jet ski operators between Killaloe and Two Mile Gate on Monday and one on Tuesday.
Gardai have to power to confiscate a speed boat if the operator is drunk in charge of a vessel.
The Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft provides best practice safety information for those who own and use pleasure and recreational craft operating in Irish coastal and inland waters.
It advises pleasure boat users to observe designated speed limits, particularly on passage through anchorages, marina approaches and areas used by swimmers;
It advises operators to be aware of the wash generated by their boat, in particular when close to or passing other vessels.
If anyone sees any person acting in a dangerous manner on Lough Derg and other waterways, they are advised to ring 999 and request the Coast Guard.
More information on the code of practice is available on https://buff.ly/3nefbXf
Dan Danaher
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.