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Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Swimming Pool Safety Guidelines will improve public safety
Irish Water Safety in partnership with Swim Ireland and ILAM have produced "Swimming Pool Safety Guidelines", to be launched by Minister Michael Finneran at 11am on Wednesday 28th April 2010 at Dublin City Council's Markievicz Leisure Centre, Townsend St, Dublin…
Courtown RNLI officially name new inshore lifeboat
Courtown volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew and their supporters gathered today (Saturday 24 April 2010) to officially name their new IB1 lifeboat Cairde an Chuain. The name means Friends of the Harbour and was chosen in memory of Courtown lifeboat crew…
Man wearing lifejacket is rescued from River Tweed
A man has been rescued from the River Tweed after falling from a ladder whilst boarding his angling boat. Lynda Bell, watch officer at Humber Coastguard says:  We received a 999 call at 11.40 this morning reporting that the man…
Lifeboat in Search for Youth Swept out to Sea
The all-weather and inshore lifeboats based at Baltimore have been searching since early morning for a youth swept out to sea. The young man who was on a weekend visit to Baltimore had been walking along the seashore under the…
RNLI Rib Run Ready for Wales
Details of the 7th Annual Rib Run from Kinsale to Aberystwyth have been announced, with a crew meeting taking place this Thursday, 1st April, In Kinsale's Trident Hotel. Over the last 6 years the Rib Run has raised over €275,000…
Check Your Self Bailer; Rain (maybe Snow) on the Way
If you've just launched your boat it might be a good time to double check your bailer is operational. Just as boats were swinging on moorings again Met Eireann has issued a Weather Warning. There is a danger that rain…
Children Risk Drowning Over Easter
Thousands of people will enjoy Bank Holiday breaks and family visits around the country and many will relax close to waterways that pose a danger if certain water safety best practices are not heeded. Irish Water Safety is pleading with…
Courtown RNLI to officially name new lifeboat Cairde an Chuain
Courtown RNLI will hold an official naming and dedication ceremony for its new D-Class Lifeboat on Saturday 24 April 2010. The ceremony will take place at 2pm on the north pier in Courtown Harbour where the lifeboat will be officially…
Castletownbere RNLI Gets Go-Ahead for New Station
Castletownbere RNLI have been granted planning permission to build a permanent lifeboat station in the town which will significantly cut the launch times for lifeboat callouts and provide a safe and secure location for dealing with casualties. The announcement was made…
Five Brought to Safety on Killiney Bay
Five brought to safety by Dun Laoghaire RNLI lifeboat on Killiney Bay Five people were brought to safety earlier today when their speedboat broke down on Killiney Bay. Nobody was injured in the incident but the RNLI says it is…
Five volunteer crew member’s of Wicklow RNLI lifeboat Station travelled to Bristol over the Easter Weekend to collect a relief lifeboat and bring it back to Wicklow. While the crew were preparing for the journey one person voiced concern that…
Lifeboat Tows yacht off Rock in Roaring Water Bay
A 45ft wooden charter schooner went aground late yesterday afternoon in Roaring Water Bay, West Cork reports Sheela Broderick of Baltimore Lifeboat There were 3 men, 3 women and a young girl of preschool age on board at the time.…
Stranded Teenagers Rescued by Helicopter
Two teenagers were stranded on rocks at Doneraile in Waterford yesterday afternoon. The Search and Rescue helicopter based in Waterford airlifted the teenagers to safety. It's believed four teenagers were trapped on the rocks as the tide came in. Two…
Tony O'Reilly to drill Dublin Bay for oil?
A company controlled by Irish tycoon Tony O'Reilly has identified Dublin Bay as a major oil prospect. The 'Dalkey Island' prospect, a resource under the Kish Bank, could yield up to 870 million barrels, worth approximately $74billion. The resource is…
Donaghadee RNLI Crew Members to Receive Awards
Seven lifeboat Crew Members from Donaghadee RNLI lifeboat station are to be recognised by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for their part in an early morning rescue that took place in horrendous weather conditions and resulted in three lives being…
Ballycotton Lifeboat rescues lone fisherman after fishing vessel sinks
Family of an Irish fisherman became concerned when his 14 metre fishing vessel failed to return to harbour at 23:30. Attempts were made to contact the fisherman by radio and phone but to no avail. Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat station was…

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.