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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Larne RNLI Assists Yacht While On Call-Out For Drifting Boat
#RNLI - While on exercise on Sunday morning (23 June 2013), Larne RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was requested to divert and investigate reports that a boat was drifting out to sea in Larne Lough. The 11m wooden boat had nobody onboard and…
Coastguard Launches Children's Wristband Campaign For Safety Near The Water
#Coastguard - The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) has launched a new summer water safety campaign designed to protect children on beaches and near coastlines. The IRCG is distributing thousands of free waterproof wristbands under the ‘Give Us A Hand’ campaign.…
Lifeboat Recovers Cow After Fall From Antrim Cliff
#rnli –  Lifeboat crew with Red Bay RNLI have successfully recovered a calf after it fell down a cliff face yesterday afternoon. The alarm was raised at 1.45pm when a local farmer contacted Belfast Coastguard requesting assistance after one of…
Windsurfer Sail in Water Prompts Dublin Bay Search Operation
#rnli – Dun Laoghaire's RNLI inshore lifeboat co-ordinated a search on Killiney Bay after a windsurfer sail was spotted drifting south of Dalkey Island by a passing yacht. Seven boats searched the area with the R116 helicopter which joined the…
Lough Derg Lifeboat Launches Again, This time for Canoeists
#rnli – Following a major search and rescue operation on Lough Derg last night for 18 rowing boats the lifeboat (RNLI) at Dromineer was launched again this morning in a separate response to assist young canoeists in difficulty in heavy…
Major Lough Derg Search & Rescue When 18 Rowing Boats Get into Difficulty
#lifeboat – Lifeboat crew with Lough Derg RNLI launched this evening after eighteen rowing boats got into difficulty at Parker's Point. The rowers, who had set out from Terryglass, at the northern end of the lake, at 2pm, were en…
Larne RNLI Rescues Unconscious Man From Lough
#RNLI - Larne RNLI rescued an unconscious man who was found a short distance from the shore at Larne Lough last night (Thursday 20 June). The volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat Hannahbella Ferguson following a request by Belfast Coastguard…
Vessels Set Adrift By Fouled Propellers Off Wicklow and Skerries
#RNLI - A fishing vessel with a fouled propeller was towed to safety by Wicklow RNLI this morning (21 June). The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 10am following a report that a fishing vessel was in difficulty after a rope got…
Arklow RNLI Rescues Couple From Yacht With Fouled Propeller
#RNLI - Arklow RNLI rescued a man and woman after their 12m yacht got into difficulty of the Wicklow coast yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 19 June). The volunteer crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 12.23pm following a report…
Three Fishermen Rescued After Boat Sinks off Donegal Coast
#rnli – Lough Swilly RNLI in county Donegal has assisted three fishermen this afternoon after their boat sank off the Inishowen peninsula. The volunteer crew was requested to launch both their inshore and all weather lifeboats at 1.30pm following a…
Marine Notice: Hydrographic Survey Off South Coast
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that a hydrographic and geophysical survey operation will be undertaken by INFOMAR off the south coast of Ireland between 10 July and 7 August…
Arklow RNLI Hosts Summer Solstice Fundraiser
#RNLI - Arklow RNLI supporters are being asked to come out and walk or jog a midnight mile - four laps of the running track at Coral Leisure Centre - in Arklow this Friday 21 June. The walk/run will take…
Portaferry RNLI Rescue Two Men In Drifting Dory
#RNLI - Portaferry RNLI launched on Saturday afternoon 15 June to go to the rescue of a small craft which had lost power in Strangford Lough, Co Down. The volunteer lifeboat crew was alerted at 1.10pm following a call that…
Three UK Quicksand Rescues in a Fortnight
#quicksand – HM Coastguard is once again reminding people of the dangers of quicksand and mud in Morecambe Bay after three rescues in just over a fortnight. The first incident was reported to Liverpool Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) on…
Sunny Days See Coastguard's Busiest Period in Two Decades
#Coastguard - Last weekend 8-9 June was the Irish Coast Guard's busiest since 1991 for search and rescue indigents, as reported yesterday on Afloat.ie. Today's Irish Examiner goes deeper into the figures, which show more than 53 coastguard search and…
Minister Pays Tribute to Work of Lifeboat & Coastguard in Wake of Tramore Bay Tragedy
#tramoredrownings – The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD has expressed his deep shock and sadness on hearing of the deaths of Paul, Kenny and Shane Bolger in a tragic accident yesterday at Tramore Bay. The…

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.