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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Belfast Coastguard Manager Resigns As Station Takes On Extra Load
#Coastguard - For Argyll in Scotland reports that Richard Newell has resigned from his post as rescue co-ordination centre manager at Belfast Coastguard. The news comes some weeks after the command base took on extra responsibility with the permanent closure…
Lifeboat Rescues Windsurfer In Stormy Conditions
#RNLI - Kilkeel RNLI rescued a windsurfer who got into difficulty in Carlingford, Co Louth yesterday (Tuesday 29 January). The charity’s volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard shortly after 2pm following a report that…
Coastguard Helicopter In Double Rescue On Sunday
#Coastguard - The Irish Coast Guard's Waterford-based rescue helicopter recovered two casualties in separate incidents on Sunday, according to the Irish Examiner. One fisherman was retrieved from the French fishing vessel Larche some 50 nautical miles south of Cork after…
Lough Swilly RNLI Featured On 'Ear to the Ground'
#RNLI - RTÉ’s popular agricultural programme Ear to the Ground paid a visit to Lough Swilly RNLI recently which will feature on this week's episode on Thursday evening. Set to feature is local man Francis Burns, who along with running…
Marine Warning – Gales Put Lives in Danger
#iws – The Chief Executive, of Irish Water Safety, John Leech is warning the public of the increased risk to drowning around our coastline for the next few days. 10% of all recorded drowning in Ireland are as a result…
RNLI Answers More Than 400 Calls in NI in 2012
#RNLI - Lifeboats in Northern Ireland launched 255 times to a variety of call-outs in 2012 in a year that saw the institution's lifeboats and lifeguards answer 413 calls for help. RNLI search and rescue operations saw 236 people brought…
Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat Has Highest Number of Rescues as 46 Call Outs Save 76 People
#rnli – Dun Laoghaire RNLI brought the highest number of people to safety with 76 individuals rescued by their volunteer lifeboat crews during 46 callouts in 2012. RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager for Dun Laoghaire Stephen Wynne commented:  "The two RNLI…
Irish Lifeboats Launched Over 900 Times in 2012
#RNLI - Irish lifeboats from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) launched 939 times in 2012, bringing 1,041 people to safety. The figures are being released by the charity following returns of service from all 44 lifeboat stations in Ireland.…
Minister Approves New Coastguard Station for Doolin
#Coastguard - Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar has given approval for the construction of a new volunteer coastguard station in Doolin, Co Clare. The €1.8-million project, to be overseen by the Office of Public Works, will be tendered within a…
Lifeboat Rescues 49er Dinghy Crew on Dublin Bay
#rescue – The crew of an Olympic 49er skiff dinghy that capsized off Dun Laoghaire in strong winds this morning has been brought to safety by Dun Laoghaire lifeboat. The two dinghy sailors got into difficulties in strong winds on…
Four Fishermen Rescued from Burning Trawler off Belfast
#At 3.03 pm today, Belfast Coastguard received a mayday call from the crew of a fishing vessel on VHF Channel 16 (International Distress and Calling Channel) reporting that they had smoke coming from the engine room and that they were…
Portrush Lifeboat Gets Identified
#rnli –  Thanks to the generosity of local man Willie Gregg, Portrush Lifeboat has now been fitted with and Automatic Identification System (AIS). The AIS is an automatic tracking system used on ships to enable them to be identified and…
RNLI Gallantry Medal Comes Home
#portrush – Tim Nelson's interest in all things connected with the RNLI has paid dividends in relation to the return of a silver gallantry medal presented to a local man for saving the life of a boy in Portrush in…
Lifeboat Crews Tow Vessel From Rocks Off Waterford
#Lifeboats - TheJournal.ie reports that RNLI lifeboat crews from Dunmore East and Fethard rescued two fishermen from their vessel off the Waterford coast yesterday (14 January 2013). Rescuers sped to the scene after the 10-metre fishing boat got into difficulty…
Suspected Engine Fire Leads to Yacht Rescue off Dun Laoghaire
#RNLI – Lifeboats at Dun Laoghaire were called out yesterday following a distress call from a yacht with a suspected fire on board. The incident took place shortly after mid-day while a second call for a kitesurfer in difficulty was…
Two Dead In Separate Incidents At Sea On Thursday
#Coastguard - The Irish Times reports on the death of a local fisherman off the Waterford coast on Thursday morning in an incident that prompted a major coastguard and lifeboat search and rescue operation - six years to the day…

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.