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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Howth RNLI All-Weather lifeboat
The volunteer lifeboat crew of Howth RNLI launched their All-Weather lifeboat on Saturday 27th, and twice on Sunday 28th of July to assist sailors in difficulty. In all three incidents, each yacht had suffered engine failure east of Howth and…
Kinsale RNLI inshore lifeboat
Kinsale RNLI rescued a kayaker on Saturday afternoon stuck on the rocks off the eastern side of the outer harbour, known as Hangman’s Point, between the popular tourist spots of Kinsale and Oysterhaven. The Irish Coast Guard requested that the…
Water rescuers are expected to have a busy weekend as people take to water activities. Fire, road and water safety officials gathered at Banna Strand in County Kerry this morning to launch this year’s ‘Amber Thursday’ ahead of the August bank holiday weekend
Fire, road and water safety officials gathered at Banna Strand in County Kerry this morning to launch this year’s ‘Amber Thursday’ ahead of the August bank holiday weekend which is traditionally a busy time for such services. After another tragic…
Dunmore East RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat returns to harbour with the casualty yacht under an alongside tow
Dunmore East RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was called out on Saturday evening (27 July) to assist a vessel in distress some three nautical miles south-east of Hook Head. The 11-metre yacht, with two people aboard, had lost all power and called…
File image of Bundoran RNLI’s inshore lifeboat William Henry Liddington
Bundoran RNLI was tasked on Sunday afternoon (28 July) with rescuing two female paddle boarders drifting out to sea at Bunlin Bar, just past the Carrickfad rocks in Donegal Bay. After receiving the call just before 4.30pm, the inshore lifeboat…
The Galway Bay RNLI lifeboat crew escorted the yacht back to Renville Harbour
Galway RNLI assisted a lone sailor who was having difficulty returning to shore after the yacht’s mast broke. Following a call from the Irish Coast Guard on Saturday morning ( 27 July), the volunteer crew made up of Helm Dave…
On Sunday, July 28th, a fishing vessel spotted a body at sea between Doolin and the Aran Islands, prompting a response from the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre in Valentia. The Doolin Coast Guard Unit boat team, with assistance from…
Bangor RNLI’s new inshore lifeboat Ruby Robinson
Bangor RNLI in Northern Ireland launched to the aid of two people last week in two separate incidents on a single day. At 10.46am on Tuesday (23 July), the volunteer crew launched their new Atlantic 85 class lifeboat Ruby Robinson…
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan published the Investigation of Marine Accidents Bill on Friday (July 26)
Newer designs of vessels used in offshore renewable energy (ORE) will be covered by the legislation governing the Government’s marine accident investigation unit (MAIU). Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan published the Investigation of Marine Accidents Bill on Friday, which includes…
Aran Islands RNLI
The Aran Islands RNLI successfully carried out a medical evacuation off Inis Mór yesterday morning. The volunteer crew responded to a request from the Coast Guard to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 10.04 am under the command of Coxswain Aonghus…
Shannon based Coast Guard helicopter R115
The Coast Guard continues to support a Garda operation to recover the body of a young boy who had fallen at the Cliffs of Moher. On Saturday 27th July, the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre in Valentia is coordinating searches…
Rescue Heli 117 landed on the beach and took the casualty directly to Waterford Regional Hospital for further treatment
Tramore RNLI assisted in a multi-agency rescue on Tramore Beach in County Waterford on Saturday (20 July) after a person sustained a hip fracture. Pagers alerting the volunteer lifeboat crew were activated at 12.45pm requesting the launch of the inshore…
Water Safety Ireland (WSI) chief executive officer Dr Joanne Walsh
Some positive news for watersport safety – recreational and commercial vessel activity accounted for just over one per cent of all drownings in Ireland in a five year period from 2017. That means the lifejacket legislation is working, as Water…
Frank McDermott, chair of Rockcorry Divers, Co Monaghan, the club which travelled to Clare to assist the Murray family in recovering Lochlann Murray's body
The father of a 17-year-old from Armagh who died off the Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare has questioned why the Irish Coast Guard could not recover his son’s body from the rocks. As The Sunday Independent reports, the family…
Aran Islands RNLI all-weather lifeboat
Aran Islands RNLI carried out a medical evacuation off Inis Mór on Monday morning (22 July). The volunteer crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 9:26 a.m., under Coxswain Aonghus Ó HIarnáin, following the Coast Guard's request that…
Newcastle RNLI D class lifeboat tows the catamaran in challenging conditions
Newcastle RNLI came to the aid of two sailors on Friday afternoon (19 July) after their catamaran got into difficulty in Newcastle Bay. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by Belfast Coastguard at 4.21 pm and…

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.