Ballina (IEBLL)

The Department of Marine are in the process of considering the future of several Irish ports including Ballina. The last official commercial vessel arrived at the port on Christmas Day, 1987. On Aug 12 1997 a Dutch registered vessel entered the port with 1,000t of coal, but was refused entry as the port was no longer insured. However this does confirm that the port can accept vessels with a draught of 3.4m. The small harbour has 1 berth and facilities for the discharge of small coasters and fishing vessels.

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Ballina is situated on the River Moy, approx 6nm within the entrance, on the NW coast of Ireland.

Draught 3.6m.

Having embarked a pilot off Inishcrone Light (54°13.0'N 009°06.0'W), between the drying spit extending from the NE extremity of Bartragh Island and the quicksands extending N from East Bartragh, then, E of the buoys (starboard hand), which mark the W side of the channel, then, between the beacons marking each side of the very narrow part of the channel approx 1nm within the entrance. The track then follows the course of the river, in places between training walls, to Ballina. Owing to the changes which occur in the channel, particular attention should be paid to the advice of the pilot.

BA 2715, 2725. Admiralty Pilot NP40.

1000.

Compulsory.

An overhead power cable, with a vertical clearance of 11m, spans the river between Crocketts Town and Ballina, 0.5nm below the latter.

Range 2.0m.

Prevailing winds: S'ly/SW'ly. On account of a heavy swell in Killala Bay and the quicksand nature of the bottom, the bar is often dangerous.

VHF: Ch 16.