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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Sligo’s Irish Coast Guard SAR helicopter
#Rescue - The Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter completed an early-morning medevac of a crewman from a Russian fishing vessel off the Mayo coast yesterday (Wednesday 8 March). Owing to the distance involved in the rescue effort, communication support —…
The SCIRS will soon become the Schull Coast Guard on a probationary basis
#Rescue - Schull’s independent community lifeboat will soon join the Irish Coast Guard, as the Southern Star reports. Established in 2005, the Schull Community Inshore Rescue Service will be officially renamed as Schull Coast Guard later this month after two…
RNLI & GAA Work Together to Prevent Drowning
The Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) and the GAA have announced a major partnership aimed at reducing the number of people who lose their lives though drowning in Ireland. Each year an average of 28 people drown accidentally around the…
New Coastguard Helicopter Hangar For Dublin Airport
#Coastguard - This month sees the start of construction of a new hangar at Dublin Airport for the Irish Coast Guard helicopter fleet, as Coast Monkey reports. The new operations centre at the current base for Rescue 116 comes half-way…
Portrush RNLI brings the cruiser under tow to Portrush harbour
#RNLI - Portrush RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew got an early callout yesterday morning (Sunday 5 March) on reports of a cruiser with three on board that had got into difficulties 33 miles offshore just south-east of the island of Islay…
Fethard RNLI brings one of the two stranded bulls to safety
#RNLI - In an unusual callout for Fethard RNLI recently, the volunteer lifeboat crew came to the aid of two bulls that had fallen from cliffs in the Broomhill area. In difficult conditions, with an incoming tide and a large…
The Skerries inshore lifeboat escorts the stricken fishing vessel to Skerries Harbour
#RNLI - Skerries RNLI responded to three calls for help since the weekend, bringing to safety three men, a woman – and a dog. Dublin Coast Guard tasked Skerries RNLI shortly after 6.30am yesterday morning (Wednesday 1 March) after a…
RNLI In Running For Douglas Shopping Centre’s Charity Of The Year
#RNLI - The RNLI’s Cork city fundraising branch is one of 10 charities shortlisted for Douglas Court Shopping Centre’s charity partner of the year. Votes on Facebook will be tallied after the closing date this Friday 3 March for a prize…
A still from video of the scene at Belfast's Victoria Channel on Saturday afternoon
#Rescue - A multi-agency response was launched after a woman fell from a quay in Belfast Harbour onto the banks of the River Lagan on Saturday (25 February). According to the Belfast Telegraph, the woman sustained injuries to her head…
Climbers with Goleen Coast Guard attempt to retrieve the trapped dog from the cliff at Castlepoint
#Coastguard - Goleen Coast Guard raced to the rescue of a dog trapped on a coastal cliff face in West Cork yesterday morning (Wednesday 22 February). As BreakingNews.ie reports, two coastguard climbers set up a rig to abseil down to…
The operation is being coordinated by the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre in Valentia and is being supported by the Naval ship LÉ Róisín
The Shannon based Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 has evacuated a seriously injured crewman from a large Russian fishing vessel approximately 140 nautical miles West of Kerry Head. The operation is being coordinated by the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre in…
County Clare dominated at the life–saving championships
County Clare lifesavers emerged as the dominant county despite strong challenges from some of Ireland's fittest Lifesavers competing at Irish Water Safety's National Lifesaving Championships in the University of Limerick this weekend. The championships attracted a record entry of 327.…
Youghal RNLI recovers the kayaker from the sea a mile off Redbarn beach in East Cork
#RNLI - Youghal RNLI has rescued a man who was found clinging to his kayak yesterday afternoon (Sunday 19 February) after he was in the sea for up to 45 minutes. The volunteer crew was requested to launch their inshore…
The Fugro Searcher (call sign: 3EUY6) is scheduled to carry out the work
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been advised that Orbis Energy Ltd on behalf of Providence Resources PLC will commence a Geophysical survey which will be undertaken approximately 220 kilometres off the South West Coast of Ireland, involving…
The scene from the East Pier in Howth (Dublin) this afternoon with waves breaking across the pier
The Irish Coast Guard operations centre in Dublin received calls of people in danger of getting washed off the pier, a unit from Howth responded and assisted people back to safety.     
A ring buoy like this kept the casualty afloat till Limerick Fire and Rescue arrived on scene within minutes
#Rescue - Swift water rescuers from the Limerick Fire Service raced to the aid of a man from the River Shannon in the city centre last night (Friday 10 February). As BreakingNews.ie reports, the casualty had entered the water at…

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.