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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Marine Notice: AIM Requirements For Seagoing Passenger Ships
#MarineNotice - As of 31 October 2014, there will be new requirements for Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) for passenger ships of classes B, C, D, IIA, III and VI. The European Communities (Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Information System) Regulations 2010…
Sediment Sampling at An Daingean Fishery Harbour Centre
#shipowners – The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been advised that Site Investigation works will commence at An Daingean Fishery Harbour Centre, Co. Kerry, weather permitting, on or around 19th August 2014. The works will involve sediment sampling/analysis…
Man Rescued Sailing To America In Flimsy Dinghy
#Rescue - Lifeboat volunteers on the Dorset coast went to the rescue of a man attempting to sail to America in a 14ft dinghy, as NewsTalk.ie reports. Mudeford RNLI were launched after reports from a passing yacht that had concerns…
Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Five On Broken-Down Boat
#RNLI - At 7.25pm on Saturday evening (16 August) Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to launch to assist five people on board a vessel reported broken down soon after setting out from Garrykennedy Harbour to Mountshannon Harbour. The…
Arranmore Lifeboat On All-Night Callout To Stranded Yacht
#RNLI - Arranmore RNLI lifeboat crew had a long callout in the early hours of this morning to a 30ft yacht in trouble off Gola Island. The pagers went off just before 2am, when the lifeboat crew – along with…
Marine Notice: 2D Seismic Survey In South Porcupine Basin
#MarineNotice - Seabird Exploration FZ LLC is scheduled to carry out a 2D seismic survey in the South Porcupine Basin off the southwest coast of Ireland. Acquisition of 4,500km of seismic data is anticipated to commence shortly with an expected…
Skerries RNLI Raft Race Set For September
#RNLI - The annual raft race in aid of Skerries RNLI, which has been growing in popularity since its return two years ago, will take place on Saturday 13 September. The raft race is a great day out for all…
Howth Lifeboats Respond To Five Callouts In Five Days
#RNLI - Sunday's aid of a fishing trawler with a fouled propeller near Lambay Island was just one of five callouts or the volunteers at Howth RNLI within five days, marking one of the busiest seasons for the North Co…
One Body Recovered, Two Rescued Alive in West Cork Yachting Accident
#westcorkyacht – Two people have been found alive and one body has been recovered after a boating accident off West Cork this morning. Our photo from the scene taken at dawn this morning show the rescue operation underway with the…
Lough Derg Lifeboat Launches for Boat With Engine Failure
#RNLI – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist five people on board a 28ft boat with reported engine failure by Ryan's Point on Lough Derg. At 7.25pm on Wednesday evening, August 13, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI…
Cornish Lifeguards Rescue 32 People From Single Beach Within One Hour
#WaterSafety - The Guardian reports on a remarkable evening for lifeguards on Cornwall's Polzeath beach yesterday (Tuesday 12 August) when 32 people had to be rescued from am "incredibly strong" rip current. The seven bathers and 25 bodyboarders had reportedly…
Kinsale Lifeboat Man Gets Leaving Certificate Results Heading Out To Sea
#rnli – Nineteen year old Lorcan Hickey from Kinsale in Cork received his Leaving Certificate results this morning (Wednesday 13 August), while heading out to sea on a lifeboat, from the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset. Lorcan is a volunteer…
Man Rescued From Flooded Car on Lancashire Causeway
#coastguard – A man has been rescued from his car after being swamped by the rising tide on the causeway between Overton and Sunderland Point. Liverpool Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public just after midday.…
Howth Lifeboat Tows Fishing Trawler To Safety
#RNLI - Howth RNLI's all-weather lifeboat launched at 1.20pm yesterday afternoon (10 August) to reports of a fishing trawler with a fouled propeller drifting north-east of Lambay Island. Skerries RNLI's volunteer crew also launched their Atlantic 85 lifeboat Louis Simson,…
Bundoran Lifeboat Rescues Surfer In Difficulty
#RNLI - A surfer got into difficulty on Saturday evening (9 August) at Tullan Strand in Bundoran and was being swept out to sea when a member of the public spotted the situation and called the emergency services. Two other…
Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Launched For family of Five Aground at Ryan's Point
#rnli – At 4pm on Friday afternoon, August 8, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat to launch to assist a family of five on board a vessel aground inside the Mountaineer Buoy at Ryan's Point on Lough Derg.…

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.