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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Howth Lifeboat Rescues Three Vessels
Howth RNLI voluntary lifeboat crew were tasked twice last Friday, to aid three vessels in difficulty off the Howth coast. The Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) was just returning to the safety of the harbour with two motorboats in tow, when the…
Coast Guard Hits Out Over Search & Rescue Deal Reports
The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) has lashed out over newspaper articles on the recent €500m deal with CHC Ireland to provide search and rescue services. The it was recently reported in an Irish newspaper that Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd…
Surveyors Issue Boat Launch Warning
Boat owners are being warned of of the lasting consequences of the winter's big freeze and the possible damage to boats on launching this season. At the most recent meeting of the Irish Branch of the International Institute for Marine…
Public Meeting in Belfast on Coastguard Modernisation Proposals
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is holding a public meeting in Belfast on Thursday 3rd March 2011, about the proposed Coastguard modernisation programme. The meeting will provide an opportunity for the community around the existing Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre…
Missing 18-Year Old Found After Two Hour Search in Bangor
A search for a missing 18 year old boy that was launched after his friends feared he had fallen from Central Pier was stood down at 01.50 this morning after he was found hiding in the crew accommodation of a…
Bangor Lifeboat Reunite Missing Child with Parents
RNLI Bangor Lifeboat launched at 3pm on Sunday 20th February 2011 to search for 6 year old boy reported missing from Lukes Point close to Ballyholme Bay which is on the southern shores of Belfast Lough. Belfast Coastguard received the…
Coastguard Assists Mourne Rescue Team
Belfast coastguard responded to two requests assisting the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team on Saturday, BYM Marine & Maritime News reports. http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=82065 The first followed reports of an injured walker in the Glen River Valley around 2pm. Helicopter assistance was stood…
Bangor Closure 'Will Not Diminish Safety' Says MCA Chief
Proposals to close Northern Ireland's only coastguard control centre "will not diminish safety" at sea, according to the head of the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The Irish Independent reports that Vice-Admiral Sir Alan Massey insisted coastal emergency services would…
Coastal Flooding Risk Warns Irish Water Safety
Irish Water Safety has today warned about the increased risk to the public in our current and forecast flood conditions this weekend. Ireland will experience the largest tides this year with Galway being worst hit with a high tide of…
Crosshaven Lifeboat Recover Body in Ringabella Bay
Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat report that they have recovered the body of a missing fisherman from the sea at Ringabella Bay after information received from a person on shore. The fisherman was lost when the fishing boat sank almost four weeks…
Search and Rescue Deal Under Question
The Irish Coast Guard's recent €500m deal with CHC Ireland to provide search and rescue services should be investigated, a Fine Gael TD has urged. According to the Irish Independent, Fergus O'Dowd is questioning the deal after receiving documents under…
Body Found in Galway Bay
The body of a man was found yesterday on an uninhabited island in Galway Bay, according to RTÉ News. http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0214/body.html The body was discovered on the shoreline of Rabbit Island, close to the entrance to Galway Harbour, by a coastguard…
Answers Demanded Over Bangor Closure Proposals
Local people will voice their opposition to the proposed closure of Northern Ireland's only coastguard rescue base at a public meeting with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) next month, the Belfast Telegraph reports. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/coastguard-threat-minister-faces-a-stormy-reception-15081748.html Supporters of the Bangor facility,…
RNLI Volunteer Among Cork Plane Crash Dead
A former volunteer with Sunderland RNLI was among the five people who died in the plane crash tragedy at Cork Airport last week, according to BBC News. Twenty-seven-year-old Andrew Cantle was co-pilot of the ill-fated Manx2 flight which came down…
Uk Coastguard Announces Public Meeetings to Discuss Modernising Service
The UKs Maritime and Coastguard Agency today have announced a series of public meetings concerning the proposed Coastguard modernisation programme. The dates and venues for these meetings are listed below. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an opportunity…
Coast Guard Gets Air Ambulance Status
Helicopter crews with the Irish Coast Guard have been awarded full air ambulance status more than a year ahead of schedule, The Irish Times reports. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0207/1224289182601.html Under the upgrade, there will be at least one trained paramedic on board any…

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.