Concern over speeding jet-skis in Ballina

Concerns over speeding jet-skis on the River Shannon at Ballina-Killaloe have again been expressed as many takes to the water during the height of the visitor and tourist season in the locality.

One boat owner living in the area who contacted this newspaper described the number of jet-skis and the speed at which they were travelling on the relatively narrow stretch of the waterway as “crazy”.

He said that he and other locals expressed fears that there would be another jet-ski related fatality on the stretch because of the high speed at which these vessels were travelling.

Two years ago a 19-year-old man, Wassiou Ayawe, from Limerick, died in a jet-ski accident downstream of the old bridge.

Under current law, a vessel or boat shall not be navigated on the Shannon Navigation at a speed in excess of 5 kph when within 200 metres of a bridge, quay, jetty or wharf when in a harbour or canal or when passing within 100 metres of a moored vessel or boat.

However, locals in Ballina-Killaloe said this legislation is being recklessly flouted.

A complaint has been made to An Garda Síochana about the actions of some  jet-ski users who flocked to the area over the past weeks.

In the past both the Garda and the local Coast Guard unit have been called out onto the waterway to speak to jet-ski owners about their behaviour.