#rnli – Wickow RNLI lifeboat launched this afternoon to a stricken fishing boat that sank off the east coast. Latest news reports from the area say three fishermen were rescued by Coastguard helicopter from a liferaft, 12km off the coast after a lobster boat boat sank around 2.15pm. The three are being treated for hypothermia in Tallaght Hospital, according to RTE news.

#Coastguard - All water-based emergency calls to 999 or 112 will be relayed directly to the Irish Coast Guard, as The Irish Times reports.

The new measure – first considered by then Transport Minister Leo Varadkar in July 2013 – comes in the wake of recommendations from the report on the Tit Bonhomme tragedy off West Cork in January 2012, which took the live of five fishermen.

It was found that two mobile phones were used to call for help when the trawler's VHF radio failed, but the calls were handled by two separate centres with no co-ordination between them, and relayed separately to the coastguard and Gardaí.

The Irish Times has much more on the story HERE.

#Coastguard - Shannon-based Rescue 115's "milestone" year has been highlighted by the operator of Ireland's coastguard helicopter fleet.

In an interview with Aviation Today, CHC general operations manager Chris Hodson said 2014's "significant number of missions" was down to the introduction of state-of-the-art, long-range Sikorsky S92 helicopters across Ireland's four bases.

And in particular, the 310 missions flown by the Shannon chopper for the Irish Coast Guard were "quite an accomplishment for the crew".

Hodson said it was "a real milestone to have one aircraft on one base complete so many missions out into the North Atlantic."

This year, meanwhile, the focus is on providing the helicopters in Shannon, Dublin, Waterford and Sligo with night vision capabilities to enhance rescue efforts under cover of darkness.

Aviation Today has more on the story HERE.

#Rescue - BreakingNews.ie reports that a French tourist was rescued after a fall near the Cliffs of Moher yesterday afternoon (Sunday 29 March).

The woman had been walking with her family south of the famous Clare coastal spot when she slipped off the cliff path, fracturing her ankle.

Coastguard volunteers from Doolin has to reach the casualty on foot as the area where she fell is inaccessible by vehicle.

The casualty was stretchered to the nearby visitor centre and later airlifted to hospital amid concerns about her condition.

The incident comes a fortnight after a surfer was rescued when he got trapped at the base of the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher, among Ireland's most popular tourist attractions.

#Coastguard - The Irish Examiner reports on an Irish Coast Guard callout to rescue two men who got into difficulty on Howth Head yesterday evening (Friday 27 March).

One of the men in their 20s had apparently fallen on the cliff path to the water at Balscadden Bay. Both were quickly located and removed to a waiting ambulance by the coastguard and Dublin Fire Brigade.

#coastguard – Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe T.D has opened the newly-built Coast Guard Station in Doolin, Co Clare. As one of the busiest Coast Guard Units in the country, this new facility provides the local Volunteer Coast Guard team with top class facilities including an operations and training room.

The project has been in the pipeline for many years and provides one of the busiest Coast Guard Units in the country with an operations and training room, changing facilities, wet room, store room and a large garage within which to store boats, road transport and cliff rescue equipment.

The purpose built facility is situated close to Doolin pier on the south-western tip of the Burren Uplands, enjoys scenic views of the nearby Aran Islands and approaches to the adjacent Cliffs of Moher. Architecturally the building takes the form of a series of abstract blocks that reflect the surrounding geology, reducing its apparent size in the landscape and, in effect, becoming part of the landscape.

Commenting today Minister Donohoe said: 'Both Clare County Council and the OPW deserve great credit for developing a building that is both functional and sensitive to the local landscape. The design in itself will be an added visitor attraction to the area as its unique design enables it to sit comfortably with other similarly scaled natural rock structures present in the area'.

"I am particularly delighted to have the opportunity to thank the volunteer members of the Doolin unit, and indeed all Coast Guard volunteers for the service they so willingly provide to our coastal communities. Coast Guard volunteers shoulder much responsibility and the services that they provide, including boat rescue, cliff rescue and shoreline searching are an integral part of our world class Maritime Search and Rescue organisation.

"This Doolin opening follows on the completion of similar projects in Killybegs in 2014, Crosshaven in 2013 and Goleen in 2012. This year I expect work on the construction of a new station in Greystones to commence. Plans for construction of a station in Westport are also at a very advanced stage."

The Volunteer Officer-in-Charge of the Doolin unit, Mattie Shannon, whose two late uncles were members of the forerunner of the Coast Guard, the CLSS (Coast Life Saving Service) established in 1937, described the opening as a proud day for the team and the Doolin community, saying: 'It gives me great pleasure to welcome all of our Coast Guard friends to Doolin on what is a proud and historic day. I want to extend a special welcome to former members of the Unit and I know they will feel as proud as the current team does. We have pursued this goal for many years and we now have a facility that will ensure that the Doolin Volunteer Coast Guard Unit is equipped to support the coastal community and surrounding areas well into the future'.

Irish Coast Guard Director, Chris Reynolds, said: 'The Doolin Unit has a long and proud tradition that dates back to 1937 when a Coastal Life Saving Service was established locally. The professionalism and commitment that was displayed in those early days continues to be the hallmark of the unit. In recent years it has been one of the busiest teams in the country providing cliff rescue services, boat rescue and shoreline search services, coupled with support for Coast Guard helicopters as well as supporting and assisting the other statutory and voluntary services'.

#Rescue - A yacht was towed to safety by the Dun Laoghaire RNLI lifeboat this afternoon (Wednesday 25 March) after it hit rocks on the South Bull Wall at the entrance to Dublin Port.

Three people were on board the 31-foot boat when the incident occurred shortly after 3pm.

Two persons clambered ashore while the third remained on board as a pilot boat and other passing vessels stood by to assist. 

The all-weather RNLI lifeboat at Dun Laoghaire was requested at 3.43pm to launch by the Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (MRCC) in Dublin and arrived just before 4pm. 

A lifeboat crew member was put on board the yacht to assist and cut the anchor that the yacht’s crew had deployed earlier when their engine failed.

The Dun Laoghaire coastguard unit also attended and brought the yacht’s remaining crew to Poolbeg, where they rejoined their boat.

#Cork - The search for a homeless man seen falling into the River Lee in Cork city ended in his arrest, as The Irish Times reports.

Valentia Coast Guard co-ordinated the search and rescue operation for the man, who was witnessed falling into the water after 7am yesterday morning (Saturday 21 March).

However the man was quickly discovered by emergency personnel on a support beneath Parnell Bridge, refusing to come out.

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.

#Coastguard - Search and rescue volunteers have expressed their frustration over a hoax call to Bray Head this past Monday night (2 March).

As the Irish Independent reports, Greystones Coast Guard responded to a report that an elderly man had sustained a head injury in a cliff fall.

Dozens of volunteers combed the area over several hours in poor weather with no sign of any casualty.

But they soon became suspicious when the phone number they were given for the caller stopped after a ring or two.

The Irish Independent has more on the story HERE.

#holyhead – Holyhead Coastguard Operations Centre coordinated the rescue of three fishermen last night after their vessel started taking on water at the start of its fishing trip.

At 22.22 yesterday the fishing vessel 'Cesca' reported that it was on route from Milford to Conwy and was taking on water. The crew were using pumps to try and keep the level of water down but they weren't able to keep up with the flow. As the situation was getting worse they called the Coastguard for assistance.

The RAF search and rescue helicopter based at RAF Valley was sent to the scene. Whilst trying to drop more pumps on the fishing vessel the 'Cesca's' engines stopped and the Captain made the decision to abandon ship. The crew were winched by the helicopter and taken to safety.

HM Coastguard Robert Bowyer said:

"It's often a difficult judgement call for any Captain to call for assistance and even more difficult to leave his vessel, which is his livelihood. By calling for assistance when he did the Captain of the 'Cesca' gave the rescue services time to get on scene and try and save his vessel. Although they did have to abandon ship he and his crew are safe and well this morning."