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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Marine Notice: Geophysical Survey Off East Coast
#MarineNotice - Osiris Projects is carrying out a geophysical survey off the east coast of Ireland for the next two weeks, according to the latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The survey began yesterday 26…
Video: RNLI Gives Top Help Tips For Kayakers
#WaterSafety - The RNLI has posted the above video outlining what kayakers can do to call for help if they get into difficulty on the water. Taking a whistle along for the trip is one sensible idea, as is ensuring…
Crosshaven Lifeboat Aids Angler at Sea
#rnli – A teenager became very unwell this evening whilst on an angling trip to the Ling Rocks on the south coast. The skipper of the angling boat became concerned as her condition deteriorated and asked Valentia Coast Guard for assistance.…
RNLI Releases Video of Shetland Helicopter Wreck Search
#helicrash – The RNLI has released video footage (above) and photographs of the Aith Lifeboat crew at the scene of Friday's helicopter wreckage off the West Coast of Shetland as Afloat.ie reported earlier The lifeboat footage taken from onboard cameras…
Aran Islands Lifeboat Launches To Grounded Yacht
#RNLI - Galway Bay FM reports that the Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat was tasked to assist a yacht that ran aground off Inis Mór in the Galway Bay island chain yesterday afternoon (23 August). The yacht apparently got into difficulty…
#RNLI - Three bodies have been recovered from the water after a helicopter with 18 people on board crashed in the North Sea last night (Friday 23 August). RNLI lifeboats from Aith and Lerwick in the Shetland Isles have spent…
Avoid Drownings for the Remainder of the Summer
#watersafety – Irish Water Safety is appealing to the public to stay safe for the remainder of the summer. John Leech, CEO of IWS is pleading with the public to be careful when you go swimming for the remainder of…
Lough Swilly RNLI Aids Fishermen Near Malin Head
#RNLI - Lough Swilly RNLI came to the aid of two fishermen yesterday (22 August) after their open boat was grounded on rocks near Malin Head, as the Irish Independent reports. The Lough Swilly lifeboat was joined by the volunteer…
Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat Assists Five Teenagers in Yacht
Five young teenagers were assisted to safety this evening as they were transferring by dinghy from a Yacht to the shore and their engine failed.With 6 knots of an ebbing tide running, the dingy was quickly swept down the East…
Lough Ree RNLI To Celebrate First Year of Service
#RNLI - Lough Ree RNLI is celebrating its first year in service and is holding an open day on Saturday 31 August for the public to come and see how the station operates. The volunteer crew at the station will…
Wicklow RNLI Remembers Historical Greystones Lifesaver
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI travelled to Greystones on Sunday afternoon (18 August) for the unveiling of a plaque in memory of RNLI coxswain John Doyle and two members of his family, who lost their lives in 1892. The deceased were…
Baltimore RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Bring Home Four People (& 2 Dogs!)
#rnli – The Baltimore RNLI inshore lifeboat went to the assistance of a motor cruiser whose engine failed near Horse Island in West Cork this afternoon Tuesday 20th August. The alarm was raised at 15:05 and within minutes the lifeboat…
Scottish Local Authorities Have Inconsistent 'Ad Hoc' Approach to Water Safety – RoSPA
#watersafety – In Scotland, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has found Scottish local authorities have an inconsistent "ad hoc" approach to water safety despite a high rate of drownings. A ground-breaking study by the UK's leading…
Enniskillen Lifeboat Crew Hit The Water For Castle Island Charity Swim
#RNLI - Some 46 people completed the 750m course on Lough Erne in the revived Castle Island Charity Swim recently - including three Enniskillen RNLI lifeboat crew in full kit! As reported last month on Afloat.ie, the swim traditionally took…
Video: Bangor RNLI In Canoe Rescue
#RNLI - The RNLI has posted video to YouTube of the Bangor lifeboat crew's rescue of two canoeists from the water at Belfast Lough last Monday 12 August. The two paddlers were reported to be suffering from the cold and…
European Lifesaving Championships Silver & Bronze for Ireland
#lifesaving – Ireland has won a silver and bronze medals in the European Lifesaving Championships in the towns of Noordwijk and Den Haag, Holland. The Team Bronze was won in the Simulated Emergency Rescue Competition by Triona Mc Menamin from…

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.