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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Search Resumes for Donegal Fisherman
The search continues for one of the two-man crew of a Donegal lobster boat that sank off the Inishowen peninsula yesterday morning. The Irish Times reports that the body of 65-year-old Edward Doherty was recovered from the sea yesterday. His…
Special Plaque Remembers Portrush Lifeboat Tragedy
A Special plaque presented to Portrush Lifeboat in honour of those who have lost their lives On the 1st November 1889 the Portrush Lifeboat launched to a boat in peril at Portballintrae. A ship had been reported in difficulties near the…
Lifeboat Rescues Two Fishermen After Ten Hours Stranded in Liferaft
Two young fishermen are recovering today (Sunday 31 October 2010) after being rescued by lifeboat crew from Ballyglass RNLI.  The two men were found in a liferaft 13 miles north of Belderrig in County Mayo after a lifeboat crewmember raised…
Wicklow Lifeboat Rescues Two People from Capsized Jet Ski
Wicklow RNLI inshore lifeboat was called into action shortly before 2pm yesterday afternoon (Saturday 30th October 2010) when two people got into difficulties while on a jet ski off Wicklow harbour. The Coast Guard were alerted after vigilant members of…
Woman Airlifted From Beach After Fall
Milford Haven Coastguard on the far side of the Irish sea coordinated assistance yesterday afternoon to a 30 year old woman who had fallen at Skrinkle Haven near Tenby in Wales, and suffered what appeared to be a broken wrist…
Warning to the Public Air Corps Firing Exercises
WARNING TO THE PUBLIC AIR CORPS FIRING EXERCISES AND AIR DEFENCE ARTILLERY FIRING EXERCISESFrom Thursday 18th November to Friday 19th November, 2010 (Inclusive) From 11.00hrs to 15.00hrs At GORMANSTON, CO. MEATH IT IS DANGEROUS FOR PERSONS, SHIPPING, LIVESTOCK OR AIRCRAFT…
Dun Laoghaire Replaces Malahide as Relief Lifeboat Base
Dun Laoghaire Harbour has replaced Malahide as the new location for a relief lifeboat base which is to serve the RNLI's Irish Division, writes Jehan Ashmore. The RNLI had signed a one-year contract with Dun Laoghaire Marina Marketing & Management…
ComReg launches Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) Registration Website
Personal Locator Beacons, or PLBs, are portable radio transmitters, which aid the Search & Rescue (SAR) emergency services in the detection and location of persons in distress. These devices operate in a similar manner to Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon…
Full Moon Prompts Weekend Safety Warning
Spring Tides and an uncertain weather forecast can make this weekend more hazardous than usual. Irish Water Safety is reminding boaters, sailors, surfers, divers and anglers that there is a full moon on Saturday so they need to be aware…
First Rescue for Kilmore's Tamar Lifeboat
The Kilmore Quay lifeboat crew are currently undergoing intensive training on their new €3 million Tamar lifeboat, which only arrived on station last Wednesday.  The lifeboat was on scene in twelve minutes and took the fishing vessel under tow into…
Report into Asgard II Sinking Due Tomorrow
The final report of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board into the loss of the brigantine sailing ship STV "Asgard II " on 11th September 2008 will be published tomorrow.  On 10th September 2008 the STV "Asgard II" departed Dournenez, France…
The Tamar Arrives!... At Kilmore Quay
The RNLB Killarney arrived yesterday into Kilmore Quay after making her delivery voyage from England. The new €3 million craft is the first Tamar-class to operate in Irish waters and is the most technically advanced lifeboat in the RNLI fleet.…
Man Rescued after Fall from Boat in Ballyshannon
The use of the kill chord and a lifejacket on a boat in Donegal this week meant a man who went over board  was able to be rescued quickly by Bundoran Lifeboat The RNLI was alerted to a person in…
Ballycotton Lifeboat Rescues Fishing Vessel
Ballycotton lifeboat was launched last night, 11 October, to a fishing vessel with a fouled propeller, near rocks off Ballycroneen Bay, east of Cork Harbour. The boat's skipper put out an anchor and contacted the owner, who in turn contacted…
Cruising Sailor Rescued off Cork Harbour
A sailor who got into difficulty cruising from Wales to the Canary Islands was rescued and brought to safety in Cork Harbour yesterday. The 10-metre yacht hit poor weather conditions near the Pollock Rock east of Power Head and lost…
First 'Tamar' Lifeboat Arrives at Kilmore Quay on Wednesday
The RNLI's new Tamar class all weather lifeboat will arrive at Kilmore Quay in County Wexford next Wednesday (13 October 2010) at 5pm. This €3 million lifeboat will be the first of its class to be based at an Irish…

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.