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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
CHC Ireland has claimed there was “political interference” in the tender for the new Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter contract. The Sunday Business Post reports that High Court filings by the company make this claim. The company confirmed…
Youghal RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
Youghal RNLI’s volunteer crew launched their lifeboat to retrieve a dismounted jet ski yesterday afternoon (Sunday, 2 July) and upon their return, they were diverted to assist with what later transpired to be a false alarm. The alarm was raised…
Clogherhead RNLI Lifeboat with the motorboat that broke its mooring
Clogherhead RNLI volunteers were tasked by the Coast Guard on Saturday, 1 July, to aid a drifting 19 ft. motorboat. The Clogherhead volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch their all-weather Shannon class lifeboat at 12.22 pm following a request…
The 12-metre-long sailing yacht is towed to Rosslare Harbour by the RNLI
Rosslare Harbour RNLI lifeboat was tasked by the Coast Guard at 8 45 am on Saturday (July 1) to assist a 12-metre-long sailing yacht that had fouled its propellor half a mile from the Splaugh Buoy. The yacht crew were wearing…
Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat en route to the stricken cruiser on Saturday afternoon 1 July
On Saturday afternoon (1 July) Lough Derg RNLI was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard following a report from a member of the public of a vessel aground close to Terryglass at the northern end of Lough Derg. The…
Valentia RNLI lifeboat returning from Friday 29 June’s call-out to a fishing boat with a snagged propeller
Three fishermen were brought to safety by Valentia RNLI on Thursday afternoon (29 June) after their nets were caught in the propeller of their 14m fishing boat. At 3.17pm, Valentia Coast Guard requested Valentia RNLI’s volunteer crew to launch their…
Row Hard or Go Home team members Jim Bailey, Derek McMullen (with his son Fionn), Frankie Mohan and Eugene Mohan are pictured with Howth RNLI crew member Killian O’Reilly, coxswain/mechanic Ian Sheridan (with daughter Amelia) and crew member Aidan Murphy
Four members of Ireland’s Row Hard or Go Home team visited Howth RNLI recently to present a cheque for €35,096 to the lifeboat crew. The funds were raised through the teams taking part in the World’s Toughest Row (formerly the…
Wicklow RNLI relief fleet all-weather lifeboat RNLB Ruth and David Arthur
Three fishermen were brought to safety by Wicklow RNLI on Tuesday afternoon (27 June), after their 14-metre vessel got into difficulties ten miles northeast of Wicklow harbour. The RNLI relief fleet all-weather lifeboat RNLB Ruth and David Arthur put to…
Kilmore Quay's all-weather Tamar class lifeboat Killarney pictured alongside at Kilmore Quay with a Coastguard vehicle on the slipway on Saturday afternoon following the first call-out
Kilmore Quay RNLI volunteer crew were called late on Saturday night to assist a yacht with four people on board that had lost power at sea, having also launched in the afternoon to reports of four swimmers in difficulty at…
Wicklow RNLI Inshore and all-weather lifeboats rescue sailors from a capsized yacht where one person was trapped in rigging
Both Wicklow RNLI Inshore and all-weather lifeboats launched this afternoon (Sunday, 25 June) after the Irish Coast Guard received a distress call on Marine VHF Channel 16, reporting an 8-metre racing yacht had capsized during a squall in Wicklow bay,…
Sligo Bay RNLI’s inshore lifeboat crew right one of the capsized dinghies on Thursday evening (22 June). The sailing club reported that conditions on the water changed quickly before the incident
Sligo Bay RNLI’s volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat to reports of sailing dinghies caught in a squall on Thursday evening (22 June). Following reports from an onlooker on the beach at Rosses Point that there appeared…
Enniskillen's new RNLI station on the Killadeas Road
Volunteers at Enniskillen RNLI will host a dual celebration at 2 pm next Saturday, 1 July, when the charity’s new state-of-the-art lifeboat station will be officially opened on Killadeas Road. The charity’s Atlantic 85 class lifeboat, John and Jean Lewis,…
Pictured at the launch of the 2023 Runway Fun Run at Ireland West Airport are (from left) Eilish Power of Achill Island RNLI, Carmen Taheny of ISPCC, Marion Biesty and Mary Russell of Mayo SPCA, Alanna O’Boyle of Diabetes Ireland, Geraldine Molloy of the Cancer Fund for Children and Eoghan O’Sullivan or Breakthrough Cancer
Achill Island and Ballyglass RNLI in Co Mayo are among six charities that will benefit from the proceeds raised from the hugely popular annual 5k Runway Fun Run, which will take place on the runway at Ireland West Airport this…
File image of Sligo Bay RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
Sligo Bay RNLI’s volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat to reports of four swimmers in difficulty on Wednesday afternoon (21 June) at Strandhill beach. On arrival at the scene less than 20 minutes after pagers sounded, the…
File image of Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
Portrush RNLI was requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard at 7.15pm on Tuesday evening to reports of a person who had fallen onto rocks between Portrush and Portstewart on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast. The all-weather lifeboat was already out on…
Wexford RNLI crew setting up a towline with the grounded motorboat
Wexford RNLI rescued two people on Tuesday night (20 June) after their boat ran aground on rocks. The volunteer crew were just completing a routine training exercise when they were requested by the Irish Coast Guard at 9.30pm to go…

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.