Failure to follow basic safety such as wearing a lifejacket or personal flotation device is still an issue in incidents in Irish waters, according to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB).
It has also noted in its most recent annual report that failure to plan for emergencies crops up in many of its investigations.
So is the recreational sector improving its safety record?
And what sort of reaction has there been to its reports, including the investigation into the grounding of the Class 1 racer/cruiser Jelly Baby in Cork harbour in 2021 and the incident involving two rowing craft on the river Corrib in Galway in January 2023?
In her interview, Ms Callanan says that the MCIB report into the Jelly Baby incident, which included a man overboard, reflected “a tension between competitive sport and safety”.
“I hope the report fairly reflects that tension which exists in many sports – in sailing, in rowing,” she says.
“People don’t plan and think about the really simple things that could really improve chances of survival when conditions change,” she says.
She also speaks about the transition period, until the MCIB is succeeded by a new independent investigation agency.
Listen to her interview below
