Bangor lifeboat crew received a request from Belfast Coastguard to launch on Saturday afternoon and rescue eight people onboard a 21ft speed boat which had struck rocks close to the seaside town of Millisle.

Within minutes of the rescue pagers being activated, volunteer crew had assembled and launched RNLI Bangor Lifeboat.

Relatively calm sea conditions allowed for the Lifeboat to proceed at full speed to the stricken vessel.

Upon arrival, lifeboat crew spotted a young man standing on an isolated outcrop of rocks far from the stranded vessel. With tides rising, the young man was plucked to safety by Lifeboat crew.

Once the young man was safely onboard the Lifeboat crew turned their attention to the rescuing the 7 people onboard the stranded speed boat. Because of the shallow water and rocky seabed a volunteer RNLI crew member swam to the stranded speed boat with a tow rope.

The lifeboat towed the speedboat to deeper water and then back to the safety of Millisle slipway.

RNLI senior helmsman Kyle Marshal who was involved in this rescue said 'Engine failure so close to shore could lead to a life threatening situation. We always urge everyone going to sea to make sure their electrical systems and engine are well maintained and in good working order. A good chain and anchor should always be carried as part of essential safety equipment'. He added 'We are glad that these people are now safely ashore'.

#LIFEBOAT – After 24 years of service the old Baltimore Tyne class Lifeboat 'Hilda Jarrett' was launched from its West Cork Lifeboat station for the final time on March 18th. The launch was also the last ever launch of an all-weather lifeboat from the boathouse slipway. The slip now idle that was used for 93 years as the youtube clip from 'Baltimore Sea Safari' shows.  As previously reported on Afloat.ie the replacement lifeboat named Alan Massey is the latest in life saving technology. The €3 million boat can be seen in picture swinging on her mooring.

#LIFEBOATS – Crew members of Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat were on hand recently to help launch the newly established Bundoran Lobsters and Lettuce Festival which will take place this July.

Volunteer crew members Brian Faulkner and Daimon Fergus kept the live lobsters under control as local chefs, dignitaries, secondary school students and surfers gathered to officially launch the festival which will take happen from July 4th to 6th.

As part of the community oriented festival, Bundoran RNLI will stage a demonstration with the rescue helicopter from Sligo which will display the cooperation between the two rescue services.

Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Bundoran RNLI Shane Smyth said 'it's great to see a community festival like this happening in the town – the RNLI is a big part of the community here and we are delighted to be asked to participate in this event. Letting the general public see how the lifeboat works under controlled conditions is a vital part of sea safety education. No doubt our volunteer crew will be looking forward to sampling the delights that the Lobsters and Lettuce Festival has to offer'

#FERRY NEWS - The captain of the cargo ship Union Moon, who was arrested after his vessel collided with a passenger ferry in Belfast Lough, has been charged with 'excess alcohol by the master of a ship'.

BBC News reports that the 55-year-old was set to appear in court today, following his arrest yesterday.

No one was injured in the incident on Wednesday, when the Union Moon collided with the Stena Feronia close to the Fairway buoy between Carrickfergus and Helen's Bay. Both vessels were substantially damaged.

The cargo ship, which was carrying 2,000 tonnes of aggregate, was brought back to Belfast. Philip McNamara of the Donaghdee lifeboat confirmed that a large section of her bow was missing.

Meanwhile, engineers from Stena Irish Sea are assessing the damage to their vessel to determine how long it will be out of service. The Stena Feronia sails the route from Belfast to Birkenhead in Merseyside.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the PSNI are all involved in the investigation.

BBC News has more on the story HERE.

#RESCUE - BBC News reports that the search for a cargo ship crewman missing in the Irish Sea has been scaled down.

The 22-year-old from Slovakia was reported missing yesterday morning from the Fehn Sirius, which was en route from Belfast to Portugal, as it headed past Arklow, Co Wicklow.

According to The Irish Times, he was last seen on the cargo ship around 10pm on Monday night as it headed south of the entrance to Strangford Lough.

Lifeboats from Portaferry and Newcastle in Northern Ireland and Arklow joined the search and rescue operation, which was assisted by the RAF helicopter based at Prestwick in Scotland and an Irish Coast Guard helicopter.

However, most rescue services have now been stood down as the Fehn Sirius continues to backtrack in the Irish Sea, with assistance from the Naval Service vessel LE Ciara.

Only three days ago the body of another mariner was recovered from the Irish Sea off the north Dublin coast, more than a month after he went missing.

#LIFEBOATS – Portrush Raft Race committee have announced their sponsor for the 2012 Charity Raft Race - 'Victoria Square' in Belfast.

The Raft Race is well established on the tourist calendar for the North Coast but this year it has the added attraction of dovetailing into the Olympic Flame arriving in Portrush coupled with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. This should make for a great weekend in Portrush.

Maryna Wylie Chair of Raft Race 2012 said

"This is a very exciting year for the Raft Race in terms of attracting a major sponsor like Victoria Square and we are delighted to have local Portrush man Hugh Black, the manager of Victoria Square on board, along with Alan Simpson from Radio Ulster, who brings his own style to the event. But to be the lead-in event for the Olympic Flame is a once in a lifetime occasion for our town."

Hugh and Alan met members of the Committee and the volunteer lifeboat crew after their exercise on Sunday to hand over a cheque of £5K sponsorship money.

Alan arrived in style, on his Stand Up Paddle (SUP), confident in the knowledge that the whole Volunteer Portrush Lifeboat Crew were on standby!

Alan commented

'I am delighted to be on board literally to compere the 2012 Charity Raft Race. It's like the wacky races on water and it's been part of my 'Portmagic' world for many a year!'

The Portrush Raft Race regularly attracts upwards of 70 rafts, and has raised approximately £500k for Portrush Lifeboat Station over the last 31 years. The Race is organised by a volunteer committee who start planning the next year's Raft Race immediately after the last one.

Maryna added

"The Committee of volunteers are dedicated to making this a fun and safe event for all the family to enjoy and we'd like to thank all those who turn out on the day to lend a hand. We are indebted to Coleraine Borough Council and the PSNI for their on-going support year in and year out.'

A new development for this year's Raft Race will be a Victoria Square Facebook competition which will set challenges for local celebrities who will be living on a specially constructed island in the middle of Victoria Square, Belfast from April 3rd-5th 2012. This will be known as the ' Square Desert Island' and will be built by a Portrush Construction Firm, Gemini Homes.

Hugh Black Manager of Victoria Square and sponsor said

"I want to bring the fun and craic of the raft race to the centre of Belfast and to raise awareness of the RNLI and the work of the volunteer crews. We have been lucky in attracting some celebrities to live on the island in the middle of Victoria Square and we haven't had to twist arms to get them to do it......well not yet anyway".

Watch this space for more details

The Victoria Square Charity Raft Race in aid of the RNLI takes place on Saturday 2nd June at the Harbour in Portrush. Application forms can be obtained by dialling the Raft Race Hotline -07969814605

#LIFEBOAT – Portaferry Lifeboat brought four kayakers to safety when they got into difficulty two miles south east of the entrance to Strangford Lough. The incident, which took place on Thursday (16 February), occurred when one of the kayakers had capsized and was in the water when the lifeboat crew reached them.

A call for assistance was received at 11.51am and the inshore lifeboat crew were on scene in 18 minutes. Conditions were reported as a force four and the sea state was choppy. The men were described as very cold but were wearing the proper clothing for their activity.

Commenting on the rescue Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Brian Baille said: 'This was a good result for the lifeboat crew. These four kayakers had the proper equipment but with the seas a bit choppy and one the group having been in the water after capsizing who was exhausted, the situation could have deteriorated quickly.

'The lifeboat crew recovered the four men onboard the lifeboat and brought them back to the slip in Portaferry. They then returned to recover the kayaks as they would represent a hazard on the water.'

#LIFEBOAT – The people of Baltimore welcomed a new addition to their community today when the RNLI delivered a €3 million Tamar class to the west Cork village.  It is set to replace the Hilda Jarrett Tyne class lifeboat, which has served Baltimore since 1988. The new lifeboat left RNLI Headquarters in Poole last Saturday calling at a number of lifeboat stations along the way before undertaking the final leg of the journey this morning from Crosshaven to Baltimore Harbour.

Onboard the lifeboat was Baltimore RNLI crewmembers, Coxswain Keiron Cotter, mechanic Cathal Cottrell, Jerry Smith, Ronald Carthy and Patrick Collins along with RNLI Training Divisional Inspector Owen Medland and Deputy Divisional Engineer Michael Carmody. Ferry operators brought passengers out to escort the new lifeboat home and the harbour was full of local school children and residents.

The new lifeboat, which is named Alan Massey (ON 1302) was largely funded through a legacy from Mrs Dorothy May Massey from Watford in England, and has been named in memory of her late brother Alan, who it is understood had a love of the sea.

It was a proud day for Baltimore RNLI Coxswain Keiron Cotter who said, "We have been looking forward to this moment for a long time and we wish to acknowledge our volunteer lifeboat crew both past and present.  The arrival of a new lifeboat to a station is an occasion of great pride and excitement.  The Hilda Jarrett has served us well for over twenty years but as a Coxswain you look forward to receiving the newest lifeboat model with all the latest developments and technology onboard.  We will spend the next month or so training all the volunteer lifeboat crew on her before we say goodbye to our Tyne class lifeboat, which will be returned to the relief fleet in Poole.

New home: The new Baltimore lifeboat passes 'The Beacon' on it's arrival escorted by Baltimore inshore lifeboat. Photo: Provision

We have so many memories onboard that old lifeboat, one of the highlights being the Rambler rescue last August.  However along with the successful rescues there have also been tragedies and most recently we witnessed this with the search for the missing crewmen from the Tit Bonhomme in Glandore Harbour. Our thoughts are with their families today."

Crews celebrate the new lifeboat alongside in Baltimore harbour. Photo: Provision

The new Tamar class lifeboat is 16.3 metres in length with a maximum speed of 25 knots compared to the 14.3 metres of Baltimore RNLI's current Tyne class lifeboat which has a maximum speed of 18 knots.  The lifeboat is self-righting in the event of a capsize and is fitted with an integrated electronics systems and information management system, which allows the lifeboat crew to monitor, operate and control many of the boats systems from shock mitigating seats.

The Tamar also carries a Y boat (an inflatable daughter boat) which is housed under the aft deck and deployed from a hinged door in the transom.  The lifeboat has room for 44 survivors.

RNLI Training Divisional Inspector Owen Medland who made the journey with the lifeboat crew added, "I have been involved with this project for the last few years and today is a great day for everyone in Baltimore.  This lifeboat represents a significant investment in safety along the west cork coastline.  I wish the crew the very best and I know this lifeboat will go on to be a vessel that will save many lives and be a symbol of safety and protection for all those who venture out to sea."

#LIFEBOAT – Baltimore in West Cork welcomes its new lifeboat today when the RNLI delivers a new €3 million Tamar to the town. The boat named Alan Massey is the latest in life saving technology and it has been making a splash along the south coast over the past few days as it nears its new home.

Baltimore lifeboat shot to international prominence last August when it carried out the successful rescue of the Rambler 100 crew off the Fastnet rock. Its skipper Kieran Cotter won a special Afloat Sailor of the Month award for the rescue.

At full speed near Cork harbour. Photo: Bob Bateman

Baltimore's new Tamar is only the second such type of vessel operating in Ireland. The first was welcomed by President Mary MacAleese into Kilmore Quay last June.

The vessel RNLI 16-22 arrived in Kilmore Quay on Tuesday night and carried out exercises off Ballycotton arriving in Cork Harbour  yesterday evening. The brand new boat was escorted into harbour by Crosshaven ILB  lifeboat Miss Betty. Also there was RNLI Governor Peter Crowley's  Sparetime (P Crowley) and other craft from Royal Cork Yacht Club.

She berthed overnight at Royal Cork and is expected in Baltimore harbour later today.

The Crosshaven ILB alongside the new Tamar boat. Photo: Bob Bateman

The Tamar will replace the existing Tyne lifeboat Hilda Jarrett, which has served the station since 1988. The new lifeboat is expected to arrive into the harbour at 2.15pm after leaving RNLI Headquarters in Poole late last week and has members of Baltimore volunteer lifeboat crew onboard including well known Baltimore RNLI Coxswain Keiron Cotter.

The new lifeboat, which is named Alan Massey (ON 1302) was largely funded through a legacy from Mrs Dorothy May Massey from Watford in England, and has been named in memory of her late brother Alan.

Alongside last night in Crosshaven. Photo: Bob Bateman

The new Tamar class lifeboat is 16.3 metres in length with a maximum speed of 25 knots compared to the 14.3 metres of Baltimore RNLI's current Tyne class lifeboat which has a maximum speed of 18 knots. The lifeboat is self-righting and is fitted with an integrated electronics systems and information management system, which allows the lifeboat crew to monitor, operate and control many of the boats systems from shock mitigating seats.

The Tamar also carries a Y boat (an inflatable daughter boat) which is housed under the aft deck and deployed from a hinged door in the transom. The lifeboat has room for 44 survivors.

The new Tamar lifeboat is not expected to be put on service until March and the next month will see all volunteer lifeboat crew perfect their training onboard the new vessel. The Hilda Jarrett lifeboat will then be put into the relief fleet to be used as needed.

All are welcome to come and see the Alan Massey Tamar lifeboat arriving into the harbour on Wednesday afternoon. Local schoolchildren, RNLI lifeboat crews and fundraisers past and present along with local residents are expected to line the harbour.

#LIFEBOAT – The body of a man who had been in a small boat that capsized was recovered a mile offshore and close to Dundalk lighthouse yesterday.

It is understood the man had taken a small punt out from Soldiers Point to reach another boat at about 3.45pm but went missing after he capsized. There was nobody else on board and weather conditions were said to be calm.

An extensive search was launched involving various Coast Guard units, Clogher Head RNLI and Dundalk Sub Aqua Club.

The Irish Indepdent has more on the story here.