Mooring facilities

There are pontoon mooring facilities located on the upstream and downstream sides of the Lagan Weir which provide short term mooring facilities for craft waiting to cross the weir. Additional short term mooring facilities exist at the Odyssey Centre (downstream of the weir), and at the Governor's Bridge, Ravenhill Reach and Waterfront Hall (all upstream of the weir).

Advice for river users

Boats navigating the river must adhere to the Bye-laws. Speeds must not exceed 10 kilometres per hour (6.5 knots), in order to minimise wash damage to the banks. Wildfowl must not be disturbed, nor nuisance caused to other river users. All flotsam and debris thrown overboard is dangerous and prohibited. The river must not be polluted with waste or fuel. Sufficient life jackets or buoyancy aids must be available for all on board. This is especially important for non swimmers and children. Boats should be aware that rowers, when accompanied by safety launches, are permitted to exceed the river speed limit during coaching and training sessions and therefore additional care should be taken when approaching them. Speedboats, jet skis and water skiers are not allowed on the river except during an event which has been approved by Laganside.

Approved launching locations

The following are approved launching locations: - Maysfield Basin- public slipway and steps, operated by Belfast City Council. - Queen's Quay- steps. - Ravenhill Reach- public slipway operated by Laganside and normally open during daylight hours.

Incoming tide

The river is primarily used by rowers from the private boat clubs based on the west riverbank upstream of the Governor's Bridge. The Lagan Watersports Centre also runs sailing and canoeing courses on the stretch of the river above the Albert Bridge.

A commercial river boat (www.laganboatcompany.com) operates from the weir on a daily basis and provides tours upstream to Stranmillis and downstream around the Titanic Quarter.

Boats in the vicinity of the Lagan Weir, when the Seacat Catamaran and other vessels are berthing downstream, must exercise caution as a substantial wash is created. The pontoons at Donegall Quay rock severely and care must be taken when mooring here. The wash may arrive up to ten minutes after these vessels berth.

Crossing the weir

The Lagan Weir Control Centre is a licensed VHF radio base station. Vessels wishing to cross the weir must contact the control room for permission.

Channel Number - 71

Frequency - 156.575 MHz

Call sign - Lagan Weir

During normal tidal and river conditions the weir gates are raised on each falling tide to impound the river upstream. The gates are lowered again when the tidal range rises above the impounded control level for the river. A horn is sounded to warn boats when the gates are about to rise. The gates can also be raised to quay level to act as a barrage for flood protection from exceptionally high tides, and to deal with pollution incidents. Boats are not permitted to cross the weir at these times. Navigation across the weir is possible for a period of approximately two and a half hours on either side of high tide. The Lagan Weir navigation system comprises multi-lamp traffic lights. Floating safety booms lie across the non-navigation openings, and rise and fall boom frames are positioned across the two passages for boats. Both systems are on the upstream side of the gates.