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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Shipping Forecast Could Be Affected By Transmitter Shutdown Next Year
#MarineWarning - Practical Boat Owner gives plenty of prior warning on plans by the BBC to shut down its Droitwich transmitter for maintenance next year, which could affect the Shipping Forecast for the Irish Sea. The 12:01 shipping forecast "will…
Youghal RNLI Marks 175 Years With 2014 Calendar
#RNLI - Youghal RNLI is to launch a 2014 calendar to mark the 175th anniversary of the establishment of the lifeboat station, which has been serving the areas around East Cork and West Waterford since 1839. A photographic trawl from…
Govt Issues Advisory On Non-Original GMDSS Product Batteries
#MarineNotice - The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) has been advised of non-original GMDSS product batteries being promoted, sold and installed on board SOLAS convention vessels for use in GMDSS equipment required by SOLAS. In particular, these non-original…
Lough Swilly Lifeboat Launches Three Times In Busy Rescue Week
#RNLI - Lough Swilly RNLI in Co Donegal launched its lifeboats three times in the last week to three separate incidents. The first was on Tuesday last (24 September) when the station’s volunteer crew was requested to launch its inshore…
Wicklow Lifeboat Launches After Report From Concerned Boater
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI launched its all-weather lifeboat on Monday evening (23 September) at the request of the Irish Coast Guard following a report of a fishing RIB at sea in darkness. The alarm was raised at 8.35pm when a member of…
HM Coastguard Modernisation Programme Announced
#coastguard – The timetable for completing the modernisation of Her Majesty's Coastguard has been announced. The new national network is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015, with the National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) operating from autumn 2014.…
Baltimore RNLI Lifeboat Bring 15–Year–Old Islander to Mainland for Medical Attention    
#rnli – Baltimore all weather lifeboat in West Cork was launched to carry out a medical evacuation from Cape Clear Island in West Cork last night. The call for assistance was made at 10:04pm on Monday 23rd Sept when a…
Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week Launched, Risks of leaks on Vessels with Sleeping Berths
#carbonmonoxide – Minister for Energy, Pat Rabbitte, today launched Ireland's second Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week (23rd-29th September), a week that also includes a safety awareness message for the boating public too. In May, the deaths of a mother and daughter in…
Open Day At Baltimore Lifeboat Station This Weekend
#RNLI - The crew of Baltimore Lifeboat Station are inviting the public to an open day on Sunday 29 September from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.  Visitors on the day will have an opportunity to see the redeveloped station house at Bullpoint…
Kilrush Lifeboat Assists More Drifting Boats In Shannon Estuary
#RNLI - There was another call-out for the Kilrush lifeboat to retrieve a boat broken free of its moorings on Tuesday 17 September, following Sunday's assist of a boat on the rocks at Mount Trenchard in the Shannon Estuary. The…
Fisherman Rescued By Portaferry Lifeboat After Boat Capsizes off South Rock
#capsize – A man has been taken to hospital after his fishing boat capsized near South Rock, Northern Ireland. Belfast Coastguard received a Mayday call at around 12:30pm today from the man on board the boat, who reported it was…
Kilrush Lifeboat Launches To Boat Broken Free of Moorings
#RNLI - Kilrush RNLI launched on Sunday 15 September shortly after 1pm following a request from Valentia Coast Guard to go to the aid of a boat which had broken its moorings off Labasheeda in Co Clare. The volunteer lifeboat…
Belfast Coastguard Search for Missing Fisherman off Portrush
#coastguard – At 4.05pm yesterday Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a 999 emergency call from a member of the public who had witnessed a shore based fisherman entering the water at Ramore Head, Portrush. Belfast Coastguard immediately requested helicopter…
Clare Lifesavers Top in National Surf Lifesaving Champs
#lifesaving – Competitors at the National Surf Lifesaving Championships had their skills and stamina tested in events that simulated emergency rescue scenarios in glorious sunshine and in an azure blue sea at Curracloe beach. The winning team from Clare dominated…
Skerries Lifeboat Joins Flare Search Off Gormanston
#RNLI - Skerries RNLI joined Clogherhead RNLI and Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 in a search off Gormanston on Tuesday night (10 September) after reported sightings of distress flares in the area. The volunteer crew launched their newly dedicated…
Bundoran RNLI Assists Search for Overdue Boat off Sligo Bay
#rnli – Bundoran RNLI lifeboat was launched yesterday afternoon to assist in the search for a vessel which failed to return at its appointed time. The search was centred around the Streedagh area of County Sligo. Sligo Bay lifeboat 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.