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Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Safety Campaign Urges Three Steps to Drowning Prevention
1.    SWIM WHERE LIFEGUARDS PATROL - they're trained to keep you safe Warm summer trips to Ireland's waterways can be an accident waiting to happen if the proper precautions are not taken. One of the safest precautions people can take…
Exxon Mobil Survey off Kerry Coast
Oil exploration company Exxon Mobil will begin exploring underwater areas off Ireland's South West coast this June, with a three-week stint in the area planned. The area they will be surveying is close to recently-discovered areas of rare deep-water coral…
Swansea Lifeboat in Multiple Rescues
The warm weather has brought on a string of incidents for Swansea Coastguard, who this afternoon have co-ordinated several rescues, including three missing children, a capsized kayak and an injured jet-skier. Several resources in particular were sent by Swansea Coastguard…
UK Coastguard Now Has 40,000 Beacons on its Register
The UK 406 EPIRB Registry based at MRCC Falmouth reached a new milestone this month by registering their 40,000th beacon, meaning the database has doubled in size in three years. The team has worked tirelessly to provide good customer service…
999 call prompts rescue of six men off Swansea
At half past ten last night, Swansea Coastguard received a 999 call from a man reporting that he could see a twenty foot cruiser drifting with no lights between the pier and first island at Swansea on the Irish Sea,…
Bangor Lifeboat Assists 18ft Motor Boat
RNLI Bangor Lifeboat launched at 1:20 pm on Monday 17th May 2010 to assist a person aboard an 18ft leisure motor boat which had experienced engine failure. Within minutes of the rescue pagers being activated, volunteer crew had launched RNLI…
Lifeboats Rescue Man Overboard off Antrim Coast
On a busy Sunday for RNLI lifeboat crews off the north Antrim Coast both Red Bay and Portrush RNLI lifeboat crews launched at 9.22am this morning to reports of a vessel in difficulty with two people onboard off Sheep Island…
Ballycotton Lifeboat Tows Fishing Boat
Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat launched at 04:10 this morning, Sunday 9 May, for the second time in one night.  They went to assist a 44ft Irish fishing vessel with a fouled propeller 37 miles south east of Ballycotton.  The wind at…
Ballycotton Lifeboat Launches Twice
An Garda Siochana received a call from a concerned woman who had observed a yacht struggling with its sail. She was unsure but was afraid that they may be having difficulties and in need of assistance. The Gardai contacted Ballycotton…
RNLI Stage World Record Attempt for Longest Riverdance Line
The charity that saves lives at sea is planning a major event in the city of Derry this Sunday 9 May 2010 at midday. The RNLI want to break the official current record for the number of dancers forming a…
Art Exhibition in aid of RNLI
Philip O’ Byrne, Cork artist will be holding an art exhibition in aid of the RNLI at the Hall of Frames Gallery, Donnybrook, Douglas from Friday May 14th to Sunday  May 16th. The theme of the painting is “From Hook…
Major Air and Sea Search Called off
Following a report of a flare tonight, an extensive search of an area west of Cork Harbour was conducted but nothing was found and the search was called off. Emergency services had received reports of a red flare seen at…
Ballycotton Lifeboat Launched for Red Flares
Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat  launched this evening to investigate a report of red flares seen east of Cork Harbour. Their eta is 21:45. More to follow.
Kayaker recovered off Traeth Mawr
At 12.00 noon yesterday Holyhead Coastguard on the Irish Sea received a 999 call from an Aberffraw resident reporting that a woman had come to her house and asked that the Coastguard be alerted to a person in difficulty off…
Complacency Puts Children at Risk This Weekend
Children are fascinated and attracted to water, it is critical that adults supervise children at all times around water, particularly children visiting farms where slurry tanks and open water is often unprotected. On average, thirteen drownings occur in Ireland every…
Air Corps Patrol Makes Emergency Landing
An Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft made an emergency landing at Kerry Airport yesterday. The Casa aircraft had been on maritime patrol off the southwest coast with six personnel on board when smoke was detected in the cabin. The aircraft…

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.