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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Top Lifesaver Gets Unique Chain of Office
#watersafety – A unique Chain of Office was presented to the Chairman of Irish Water Safety (IWS), Breda Collins by the Kilkenny Water Safety Area Committee (WSAC) recently. It was designed and made by Liam Costigan of Kilkenny. It is…
Arklow Lifeboat's Early Start To Assist Drifting Fishing Boat
#RNLI - Arklow RNLI's lifeboat Ger Tigchlearr and its volunteer crew launched at first light yesterday morning (13 May) to go to the aid of a local fishing vessel. Within minutes of the pager alert at 5.45am the lifeboat was…
Wicklow Lifeboats Assist Stricken Yacht With Snapped Tiller
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI launched to assist a yacht in difficulty before 10am yesterday morning (Sunday 11 May) just as lifeboat volunteers were preparing to launch on a crew exercise in Wicklow Bay. The call for assistance from the yacht…
Howth RNLI Lifeboat Coxswain Retires After 39 Years Service
#rnli – After 39 years of dedication to Howth RNLI, 27 years as lifeboat coxswain, Robert Duffy has retired. Thanks to his bravery and determination, he helped to save hundreds of lives at sea during his time as a volunteer…
Lough Derg Lifeboat Launches to Vessel Adrift After Engine Failure
#rnli – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched in winds gusting F8 last night, to assist nine people on board a 40–ft cruiser, suffering engine failure. At 6.35pm on Saturday evening, May 10, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat…
Rory Gallagher's Family Donate Guitar & Amp To Raise Funds For Ballycotton RNLI
#RNLI - The family of late musician Rory Gallagher have generously donated a replica Fender Stratocaster guitar, along with his original Oberheimer warm-up amplifier and stencilled flight case, to raise funds for Ballycotton RNLI. The items will be auctioned later…
Bangor, Donaghadee Lifeboats Assist Stricken Fishing Boat
#RNLI - A fishing vessel that developed steering trouble in Belfast Lough was towed to safety by Donaghadee RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Saxon, assisted by Bangor RNLI’s inshore lifeboat. The Donaghadee lifeboat launched at 3.20pm yesterday (Friday 9 May) after a request…
Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Towing 75–foot Trawler Estimates Return to Shore at 7.30pm
#lifeboat – Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat continues to tow a 75–foot fishing vessel that had got into difficulties earlier today 35 miles off Courtmacsherry in West Cork. It is now proceeding to take the trawler to the safefy of…
Marine Notice: Vessel Wash Danger For Rowing Craft
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels of the inherent dangers posed by the wash of larger vessels on craft such as rowing craft and small open boats. The very low freeboard,…
Red Bay Lifeboat Involved In Rescue Of Man Overboard
#RNLI - Red Bay RNLI was involved in the rescue Sunday afternoon (4 May) of a man who fell overboard from a boat near Cushendall in Co Antrim. The man had fallen from the vessel near Waterfoot pier and was…
INSC Sail-A-Thon Raises €1800 for Dun Laoghaire RNLI Lifeboat
#sailathon – Had you been walking the East or West Pier of Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Saturday morning around 9pm you would have seen an INSC 1720 rigged as a committee boat make its way out into Dun Laoghaire Harbour's…
Young Boy Critical After Fall Into Sea Off Blackhead Lighthouse
#Coastguard - The Irish Times reports that a nine-year-old boy is in critical condition after falling into the sea near Blackhead lighthouse in Co Clare on Sunday 4 May. The Irish Coast Guard's Shannon-based rescue helicopter airlifted the unconscious boy…
Wicklow Lifeboat Tows Cabin Cruiser To Safety
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's second call-out this bank holiday weekend – after Friday's early morning tow of a stricken yacht - saw two on board a 13m cruiser brought to safety early today (4 May) after their vessel suffered engine…
Wicklow Lifeboat Brings Yacht To Safety In Early Morning Call
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI launched in the early hours of yesterday morning (Friday 2 May) to bring a yacht and its crew of three to safety. The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 2.57am in response to a call…
99th Anniversary of Sinking of Lusitania to be Marked by Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat
#lusitania – The Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Lusitania Centenary Committee is appealing to anyone or any organisation that may have Lusitania artefacts, stories and memorabilia or know of any family members of those lost or saved in the tragedy to get in…
Irish Coast Guard Christens 'Queen Of The Sky' At Shannon
#Coastguard - As the Facebook post above shows, the Irish Coast Guard has officially named the Shannon-based helicopter with the call sign Rescue 115 as Banríon na Spéire, or Queen of the Sky. The search and rescue chopper, which 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.