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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Nighttime Navigation Issues Led to Grounding of 'Pirate Queen' - MCIB
#MCIB - "Serious weaknesses" in navigational procedures and practices led to the grounding of a passenger boat at Roonagh Pier in Co Mayo last winter, according to the official report into the incident. The inter-island passenger ferry Pirate Queen -…
Portrush Lifeboat Rescues Stranded Kayaker
#RNLI - Portrush RNLI has rescued a kayaker who got into difficulty off the Co Antrim coast. The volunteer lifeboat crew had an early call out on Sunday morning (17 February) to the kayaker who got into trouble on the…
Irish Coast Guard Collaborates On New Marine Monitoring System
#Coastguard - The Irish Coast Guard is collaborating on a new system of marine monitoring in the hopes of detecting a dead ship that may threaten to run aground on Ireland's shores. The Newfoundland Shipping News blog details how the…
Lifeboat Launched to Rescue Lough Derg Kayakers
#rnli – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat was launched to assist two Kayakers in difficulty in near gale winds at Terryglass at the northern end of Lough Derg. Yesterday afternoon Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was launched at the request of Valentia Coast…
Marine Notice: Corrib Field Seismic Survey Set to Recommence
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the DTTAS concerns the scheduled recommencing of a 3D seismic survey over the Corrib Gas Field by Shell E&P Ireland Ltd. Some 40% of the survey was completed in 2012, and the remaining…
Man Lost Arm After Going Overboard from RIB In Cork Harbour
#MCIB - A man who lost his arm when he fell overboard from his boat in Cork Harbour last summer could have avoided the accident if he had followed essential safety precautions, according to the official report into the incident.…
Fisherman Dies Of Head Injuries Off Kinsale
#Coastguard - The Irish Times reports that a fisherman has died after sustaining head injuries in an incident off the Old Head of Kinsale last night. The man, one of three crew on the West Cork-based fishing trawler Liberty, is…
Neglect of Safety Procedures Led To Leg Injury on Fishing Vessel - MCIB
#MCIB - The dangers of performing maintenance tasks on boats while machinery is running have been highlighted in the official investigation into an accident on a fishing vessel off Erris Head in Co Mayo last year. The skipper of the…
Baltimore Lifeboat Returns to Base After Unsuccessful Search for Missing Fisherman
#rnli – Baltimore RNLI Lifeboat launched at 05:20 this morning 12 Feb 2013 to participate in a search for a missing Spanish fisherman. The Alan Massey, proceeded to an area 20 miles SW of Mizen Head in West Cork.  Alongside…
Search for Missing Spanish Fisherman Off Southwest
#Coastguard - The Irish Coast Guard's Rescue 115 helicopter was tasked overnight to search for a missing Spanish fisherman who fell overboard from his fishing trawler off the southwest coast in the early hours of this morning. 98FM is reporting…
Crushing Incidents Restate Need for Safety Around Moored Vessels
#Safety - Two recent crushing accidents in the UK and Australia have restated the need for vigilance at the waterside even when boats are moored. Yachting & Boating World reported last month on a port worker at Denton Wharf in…
RNLI Calls For Causeway Coast Lifeguards
#RNLI - The RNLI is currently recruiting lifeguards to work on 10 Northern Ireland beaches for the forthcoming season including seven beaches along the Causeway Coast. The successful candidates will become part of the RNLI’s beach lifeguard team who will…
Rosslare RNLI Launches To Drifting Vessel In Severe Winds
#RNLI - The volunteer lifeboat crew with Rosslare Harbour RNLI launched at 10.30am on Wednesday morning (6 February) to a fishing vessel drifting dangerously close to the shore in a force 8 gale (see video below). The vessel was located…
Distress Whistle Prompts Launch of Lough Derg Lifeboat
#rnli – Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was launched at the request of Valentia Coast Guard to investigate whether anyone was in difficulty on the lake, after they were informed that three sustained blasts from a whistle were heard from shore…
'Fact Finders' Visit Dun Laoghaire RNLI for RTÉ's 'Elev8'
#RNLI - Dun Laoghaire RNLI will feature on RTÉ‘s youth programme Elev8 next week. A number of the lifeboat station’s volunteer crew took time out on Monday to spend the afternoon filming a segment for the show, which will be…
Donaghdee RNLI Remembers Princess Victoria Tragedy 60 Years On
#RNLI - The sinking of the Princess Victoria on 31 January 1953, with the loss of 135 lives, was the worst maritime disaster in the waters of the British Isles. The Donaghadee lifeboat Sir Samuel Kelly rescued 34 from the disaster…

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.