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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Heat Waves Masks the Danger of Cold Water
Unseasonaly warm weather presents a simple danger this weekend, the cold water that many will enjoy. Cold is the greatest causation of drowning in Ireland, sea water temperatures are approximately 10° Centigrade and fresh water is colder than this. The…
Lifejackets Could've Saved Lives
86 maritime deaths between 2007 and 2010 may have been avoided if those involved had worn a lifejacket or buoyancy aid for water safety. This is the latest finding of an expert panel which has been analysing maritime accidents since…
Fruitless Search After Distress Call from Stolen Radio
Coastguards at Holyhead engaged in a frantic but fruitless search on Saturday after a distress call that was tracked to a stolen radio. Motorboat & Yachting reports that the north Wales rescue team picked up the automated distress call at…
Irish Water Safety Launches TV Campaign
Irish Water Safety (IWS) has launched a new TV awareness campaign to highlight best practice whether in, on or around water in an effort to cut the number of tragic drownings on our coasts and waterways. "Ireland is blessed with…
Bangor Lifeboat Assists in the Rescue of Five People from Stricken Speed Boat
At 2.10pm this afternoon lifeboat crew received a request from Belfast Coastguard to launch the lifeboat and assist in the rescue of 5 persons onboard a 21ft speed boat which had struck rocks close to Groomsport. While lifeboat crew assembled,…
Irish Coast Guard Chopper Deal Could Be Model for UK
The director of the Irish Coast Guard has outlined the thinking behind its recent €500m deal for helicopter search and rescue services. Chris Reynolds told Rotorhub that a simplified model based on key critera was adopted when choosing a bigger…
DSC Radio Distress Alert from Ireland Triggers Major Search
Holyhead Coastguard coordinated an extensive search on Saturday after receiving a VHF DSC automated distress alert.  No casualty vessel was found. At 7.50pm on Saturday, Holyhead Coastguard received a VHF DSC automated distress alert, with no position and a search…
Engine Failure on Lough Derg Leads to Lifeboat Rescue
This afternoon, April 17, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Toshiba Wave Warrior rescued five persons and their two dogs on board a 24ft motor cruiser, after their vessel suffered engine failure, off Whitegate on Lough Derg At 15.49hrs on Sunday April…
Red Bay RNLI Save Two Men after Boat Capsize off North Antrim Coast
Red Bay RNLI lifeboat volunteers saved two men this morning (Sunday 17 April 2011) after their vessel capsized off the North Antrim Coast. The two men were on passage from Ballycastle to Scotland in a 9 metre landing craft. Their cargo…
Possible Rethink on UK Coastguard Cutbacks
The British government could be ready to change its plans for the streamlining of the UK coastguard service. The Belfast Telegraph reports that while there will be no turning back on reforms, concessions such as closing fewer stations and keeping…
Don't Drink and Drown this Sumer - UK Coastguard Issues Warning
At 8.30pm on Friday, Liverpool Coastguard received 999 calls reporting that a 17 foot open boat had broken down with two people on board and was drifting off Harrington. Liverpool Coastguard requested the launch of Workington RNLI all weather lifeboat…
Woman Rescued from Water at Howth Head
Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 was on hand Wednesday to save a woman seen in the water close to cliffs near the Baily Lighthouse on Howth Head. http://www.afloat.ie/resources/organisations/irish-coast-guard/ SAR Ireland reports that the helicopter was on a training exercise…
Crippled Sea Angling Boat Not So Crafty
Three anglers were recovered by the Kilmore Quay lifeboat last weekend after an engine failure on their vessel close to the Saltee Islands. SAR Ireland reports that three males were on board the cheekily named Crafty Bitch on a fishing…
Flood Evacuation Exercise in Fingal This Weekend
Members of the publuc are invited to attend a major flood evacuation training exercise this Saturday at Broadmeadow Esturary in Swords, Co Dublin. Rescue and boat rescue crews from the Irish Coast Guard are sceduled to join teams from the…
Sink or Swim RNLI Sea Safety Evening a Fantastic Success
Over 160 people attended the free sea safety evening held  in Bangor, Co. Down on Tuesday night. Life raft and life jacket demonstrations along with video and slide presentations made for a fun evening with a serious message. With a…
Three 14 Year Olds Cut off By Tide
After dealing with 93 people who were cut off by the tide in separate incidents yesterday, Liverpool Coastguard sent several rescue resources to three 14-year-old boys this afternoon after they were stranded on the sands in the upper reaches of…

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.