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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
The Irish Coast Guard were involved in the search for Jamie McAllister, whose body was recovered on Saturday 27 May
#MCIB - The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) will this week begin its inquiry into the sinking of a fishing vessel off Skerries last Friday (26 May) that claimed the life of a local fisherman, according to The Irish Times.…
Dunmore East RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Elizabeth and Ronald
#RNLI - Dunmore East RNLI rescued two divers who got into difficulty off Hook Head in Co Wexford on Sunday afternoon (28 May). The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 1.19pm following a report from the…
Bell the springer spaniel with her coastguard rescuers on Friday night
#Rescue - Coastguard units from Ballycastle and Coleraine were tasked on Friday night (26 May) to the aid of a dog fell more than 30 feet off a cliff near the Giant’s Causeway in Co Antrim. The coastguard teams used…
Lough Ree RNLI's lifeboat The Eric Rowse tows a grounded cruiser to safety on Saturday 27 May
#RNLI - Lough Ree RNLI’s lifeboat crew were alerted by the Irish Coast Guard to two separate incidents on Saturday 27 May. The first alarm was raised at 11.04am when two people on board a 32ft motor cruiser ran aground…
The Bundoran Lifeboat William Henry Liddington accompanies the Killybegs Coast Guard RIB and casualty vessel to Teelin
On Sunday afternoon, May 28th, the volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI lifeboat was requested to assist a rib with four persons on board which had broken down off Malinbeg, close to Rathlin O’Beirne Island. The alarm was raised around 3:45pm…
Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Assists Two Sailors on Yacht Aground
Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist 2 people after their 26ft–yacht went aground below Coolbawn on Lough Derg At 8.30pm Saturday, May 27, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat to launch to assist 2 people after their…
Skerries RNLI Atlantic 85 Louis Simson is involved in the search for the missing trawler crew
A search operation is underway after a fishing trawler sank off the coast of north Dublin this afternoon.  The search effort is ongoing involving the coastguard and the RNLI. Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 116, LE Niamh and LE Orla, along with…
Castlehaven GAA Healthy Clubs representative and well-known open water swimmer Noel Browne urges people to fight their instincts and float if they enter the water unexpectedly
#RespectTheWater - As temperatures look set to soar across Ireland, new research commissioned by the RNLI reveals that more than a third of Irish people would follow their instincts and fight against the water if they unexpectedly fell into it.…
Howth Coast Guard volunteers searching low waters off Sutton
#Rescue - A surfer was rescued in West Kerry on Monday night (22 May) after he was pulled from the shore by a rip current, as RTÉ News reports. Dingle Coast Guard and Valentia RNLI fought difficult conditions – with…
Holyhead RNLI's all-weather lifeboat Christopher Pearce
#RNLI - Holyhead RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was launched last evening (Monday 22 May) after a man fell ill on board his sailing boat in the Irish Sea. The station’s Severn class Christopher Pearce launched at 6.25pm after the man, who…
Arranmore RNLI operates a Severn class lifeboat like this one, Portrush RNLI’s erstwhile Katie Hannan
#RNLI - Arranmore RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was called out to assist two people in a boat with engine failure off the coast of Glen Head in Co Donegal on Saturday evening (20 May). The stricken vessel, which had left Bunbeg…
The injured cyclist is winched from the Strand at Wicklow Harbour to a waiting ambulance
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI lifeboat pagers were activated at 12.24pm on Tuesday afternoon (16 May) after a cyclist had fallen from the quayside onto the Strand beach at Wicklow Harbour. The volunteer inshore lifeboat crew were on scene within minutes…
Courtmacsherry RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew
#RNLI - Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was called out at 11.30am yesterday morning (Wednesday 17 May) to go to the aid of a 70ft fishing vessel that sought assistance 10 miles south east of the Old Head of Kinsale in…
The RNLI coxswain brought the Rosslare lifeboat alongside the yacht to fix an accidentally activated EPIRB
Rosslare Harbour RNLI all weather was launched by the volunteer lifeboat crew yesterday morningat 11.45am to respond to an EPIRB distress signal (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon). The Irish Coast Guard alerted Rosslare Harbour RNLI to immediately launch following an…
The Skandi Olympia is carrying out the visual survey for the next three weeks
#MarineNotice - Sailors and other mariners off the South West Coast should keep on the lookout for a visual survey by remote operated vehicle currently being undertaken by PSE Kindle Energy Ltd. The survey, which was set to commence on Tuesday…
One happy dog in the care of Lough Ree RNLI after a cruiser grounded on the Long Shoal on Monday morning
#RNLI - Lough Ree RNLI’s lifeboat crew were alerted by the Irish Coast Guard on Monday morning (8 May) when four people and their dog on board a 40ft motor cruiser ran aground on the Long Shoal near the eastern…

Every Year Ireland's Search & Rescue Services deliver emergency life saving work on our seas, lakes and rivers.

Ireland's Water Safety Agencies work hard to provide us with the information we need to keep safe, while enjoying all manner of water based activities.

There's no better fun than getting out on the water but being afloat is a responsibility we all need to take seriously.

These pages detail the work of the rescue agencies. We also aim to promote safety standards among pleasure boaters, and by doing so, prevent, as far as possible, the loss of life at sea and on inland waters. If you have ideas for our pages we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected]

Think Before You Sink - Wear a Lifejacket

Accidents can happen fast on water and there may not be time to reach for a lifejacket in an emergency therefore don't just carry a lifejacket - wear it; if it's not on you, it can't save your life.

Irish Water Safety's Safe Boating Alert:

Check condition of boat and equipment, hull, engine, fuel, tools, torch.

Check the weather forecast for the area.

Check locally concerning dangerous currents and strong tides.

Do not drink alcohol while setting out or during your trip.

Carry an alternative means of propulsion e.g. sails and oars or motor and oars.

Carry a first aid kit on board and distress signals (at least two parachute distress rockets, two red hand flares).

Carry a fire extinguisher, a hand bailer or bucket with lanyard and an anchor with rope attached.

Carry marine radio or some means of communication with shore.

Do not overload the boat - this will make it unstable.

Do not set out unless accompanied by an experienced person.

Leave details of your planned trip with someone ashore - including departure and arrival times, description of boat, names of persons on board, etc.

Wear a Lifejacket at all times.

Keep an eye on the weather - seek shelter in good time.

In Marine Emergencies, call 999 or 112 and ask for Marine Rescue.

Lifejackets Checklist

Ensure Cartridges have not been punctured and are secured firmly.

Ensure all zips, buckles, fasteners and webbing straps are functioning correctly and adjusted to fit the user.

Check that fitted lights are operating correctly.

Ensure that Automatic Inflation devices are fully serviced and in date.

Check that the valve or lifejacket is not leaking.