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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Portrush Prepares to Celebrate 150 Years of Lifeboat Service
Portrush Lifeboat station celebrates its 150th anniversary next September 19th. The RNLI is holding a service and celebration at the Royal Court Hotel in Portrush. Portrush is a popular tourist destination on Northern Ireland's famous Causeway Coast. The town sits…
Tamar-Class Lifeboat Visits Irish Waters
The Tamar-class lifeboat is the latest in a series of high-tech craft within the RNLI lifeboat fleet and in use throughout the UK. The class is named after the River Tamar, Cornwall and like other lifeboats, they are named after large rivers, writes Jehan…
Red Bay RNLI Rescue brother and sister off Fair Head Rocks in County Antrim
County Antrim's Red Bay Lifeboat crew launched this evening (Saturday 7 August 2010) to rescue a brother and sister who had got into difficulty in the Boulder Field on Fair Head rocks on the North Antrim Coast.  This is the…
Cold Swimmer Rescued in Portrush Harbour
A teenager was rescued from Portrush Harbour after a very cold swim out to a moored boat to collect some fishing gear. After swimming across the harbour to the moored boat the teenager called for help. Belfast Coastguard co-ordinated the…
Fenit Lifeboat Recover Injured Woman from Great Blasket Island
At 03.41 this morning (Thursday 5 August 2010) Fenit RNLI lifeboat crew were requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard to go to the assistance of a woman injured on the Great Blasket Island.  The woman had fallen and sustained…
Crew Man Got Caught in Bight of Rope and Pulled Overboard
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board has issued a report of Investigation into the loss of a crewmember overboard from the MFV "MDAC" on 15th July 2009. The report says while shooting a string of lobster pots on the morning of…
Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Vessel Aground
This afternoon at 15.47hrs, Lough RNLI Derg lifeboat Toshiba Wave Warrior launched to assist eight persons on board a 31ft cruiser aground on Lough Derg. At 15.30hrs on Monday afternoon August 2, Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch following…
Majority of Lifejackets Fail Lifeboat Test
Over 90% of lifejackets tested at Ireland's two biggest sailing centres failed simple checks carried out by the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) last week writes Irish Times Sailing Columnist David O'Brien. From 91 jackets tested in Cork and Dublin,…
Sea Safety Team To Offer Advice in Dun Laoghaire this Weekend
Visitors to RNLI at Dun Laoghaire will be able to view the new inshore lifeboat (ILB) that recently arrived when the station holds its annual open day on Saturday 31st July 2010 (11am to 5pm). For the first time, the…
Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat Has a Busy Day with Two Callouts.
Bundoran RNLI lifeboat was called out twice yesterday (Tuesday, 27 July) to two individual callouts in Bundoran, Co. Donegal. The first call out was to three children off the main beach in Bundoran. Two of the children had been taken…
Howth Coastguard Work Features in 'The Irish Times'
Irish Times reporter Laurence Mackin spent a day with the Howth Coast Guard, and discovers their vital, voluntary work can be distressing as well as rewarding. His feature piece is well worth a read and is published HERE.
Clifden Lifeboat Calls for Vigilance over Hoax Flares
The RNLI Lifeboat in Clifden, Co. Galway has issued a plea over a series of call outs due to the irresponsible use of flares at the weekend. Flares were spotted off Roundstone which led to an extensive search mission in…
Jedward Backs IWS Safety Message
Jedward is backing Irish Water Safety's mid-summer reminder to the public that with many weeks of warm weather yet to enjoy, everyone can have great fun and do so safely by heeding the following swimming safety tips. Known for their…
Baltimore Lifeboat Assists Yacht Adrift
The Baltimore RNLI inshore lifeboat Bessie, was launched this evening to assist a yacht that was adrift west of the Kedge Island near Baltimore, West Cork. The 26ft yacht with two people on board had been making its way from…
Wicklow Lifeboat Launches Twice at the Weekend
Wicklow lifeboat launched at 10.07am on Sunday morning ( 25th July) to assist a 32 foot yacht with mechanical problems. The yacht was at located 11.00am 13 miles North East of Wicklow harbour becalmed and unable to motor. The lifeboat…
Lough Derg Lifeboat Rescues Unconscious Person from Vessel Aground
  On Sunday night July 25 at 23.29hrs, Lough Derg lifeboat Toshiba Wave Warrior launched to investigate a report of a vessel aground at Tinkers Point at the southern end of Illaunmore and found a person deeply unconscious on board. …

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.