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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Coast Guard Warning on Jet Ski Dangers
#coastguard – HM Coastguard is again warning people of the dangers of jet skis and personal watercraft (PWC) after a busy summer in North Wales. Between 1 May and 1 September this year, Holyhead Coastguard dealt with almost 30 incidents…
Junior Lifesaving Event Produces Two Irish Champions
Ireland took two "European Junior Champion" titles in the European Junior Lifesaving Championships, which took place in Riccione, Italy from 6th-8th September. The Championships simulate real life rescue situations that Lifeguards can expect to encounter as Lifesavers and pits the…
Baltimore Lifeboat RNLI Secure Sinking Fishing Vessel
#RNLI – Baltimore RNLI responded to a call involving a 20-metre steel fishing vessel with two people on board yesterday evening (Saturday 7 September). The vessel was making passage from Castletownbere in West Cork to Kinsale when it began to flood due to problems…
New Skerries Lifeboat Dedicated In Special Ceremony
#RNLI - Skerries RNLI officially named its new Atlantic 85 lifeboat Louis Simson at a special ceremony held today (Saturday 7 September), as reported yesterday on Afloat.ie. David Delamer, a member of the Irish Council of the RNLI, accepted the…
Bundoran Lifeboat Crew To Push The Boat Out This Saturday
#RNLI - Bundoran RNLI's annual boat push will take place this Saturday 7 September as the volunteer crew once again embark on the challenge of raising funds for the lifeboat station, which is entering its 40th year of existence. The…
Isle of Man Lifeboat Launches To Stranded Kayakers
#RNLI - Douglas RNLI lifeboat on the Isle of Man was launched last night (4 September) at the request of Douglas Coastguard following the report of two kayakers stranded on the seaward side of Douglas Breakwater. The RNLI all-weather lifeboat…
Lifeboat Launches to Cruiser Aground on Lough Derg
#rnli – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist three people after their 38ft cruiser ran aground in Slevoir Bay, close to Terryglass, at the northern end of Lough Derg. At 17.450hrs on Wednesday afternoon, September 4, Valentia Coast Guard…
Wicklow Lifeboat In Medivac From Survey Vessel
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI carried out a medical evacuation of an unwell man from a survey vessel off the Wicklow coast in the early hours of yesterday morning (2 September). The alarm was raised after the man was suspected to…
Wicklow Lifeboat Launches To Flare Sighting
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI carried out a search of Wicklow Bay on Saturday night (31 August) after the Irish Coast Guard received a 999 call to report a distress flare sighting. Both Wicklow's all-weather and inshore lifeboats were requested and launched…
Busy Weekend For Portaferry Lifeboat With Two Call-Outs
#RNLI - Portaferry RNLI had a busy start to the weekend with two call-outs last Friday (30 August). The first call was received just before 3pm from a 5m Shetland open-top fishing vessel with two men and one child on…
Marine Notice: Rock Placement at Corrib Pipeline
#MarineNotice - The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been advised that rock placement works will commence along the pipeline/umbilical route at the Corrib Gas Field development off Co Mayo. Work will commence in mid-September and is expected to…
'MAYDAY' Yacht Collision on Dublin Bay Leads To Lifeboat Launch
#rnli – The RNLI all-weather lifeboat at Dun Laoghaire launched this afternoon when a MAYDAY call was received from a yacht in Dublin Bay. The 30-foot yacht had been sailing between the Baily Lighthouse and Dun Laoghaire when it was…
Wicklow Lifeboat Aids Troubled Motor Boat
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI launched its all-weather lifeboat Annie Blaker shortly before 5pm yesterday (29 August) to assist two crew on a small motor boat with engine problems. The lifeboat was requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard following a report that a…
Achill Island Lifeboat Attends Injured Woman Off Mayo Cliffs
#RNLI - Achill Island RNLI was tasked to assist a young woman in distress off the cliffs of Old Head in Louisburgh, Co Mayo yesterday afternoon (28 August). The volunteer lifeboat crew sped to the scene around 4pm yesterday after…
Portaferry Lifeboat Attends Converted Trawler After Power Failure
#RNLI - Portaferry RNLI responded to a mayday call about a converted fishing trawler at Ringhaddy Sound in Strangford Lough on Saturday night (24 August). The alarm was raised by the crew of a nearby yacht who reported two men…
Wexford, Wicklow and Courtown Lifeboats Have A Busy Few Days
#RNLI - Wexford RNLI rescued two people late on Monday night (26 August) after their yacht went aground on a sandbank on the way into Wexford Harbour. The volunteer lifeboat crew responded to the report of the yacht which had grounded near…

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.