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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Skerries Lifeboat Dispatched To Kitesurfer In Distress
#RNLI - Skerries RNLI launched on Saturday evening (24 May) to reports of a kitesurfer in distress near Shenick Island off the south strand in Skerries. The volunteer crew launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson shortly after 5.30pm.…
One Man And His Dog Rescued By Ballycotton Lifeboat
#RNLI - Ballycotton RNLI went to the rescue of a man and his dog from a tidal rock near the West Cork town yesterday afternoon (Saturday 24 May). The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch at 12.13pm at the…
Riptide Warning For NI's North Coast After Bodyboarder's Death
#WaterSafety - HM Coastguard has issued a safety warning over dangerous riptides along Northern Ireland's north coast this week after strong currents claimed one life and put two others at risk. BBC News reports on the death of 25-year-old Stephen…
Top Award For Sligo Coastguard Chopper Crew
#Coastguard - Four members of Sligo's Irish Coast Guard helicopter crew are in Canada this week to receive a prestigious award for their efforts in the rescue of a climber from the Bluestack Mountains. As The Irish Times reports, the…
Marine Notice: New Hydrographic Survey In Galway Bay Area
#MarineNotice - Following from this weekend's survey in Donegal Bay, INFOMAR will undertake a hydrographic and geophysical survey off the West Coast in the Galway Bay area between 25 May and 7 June 2014. The RV Celtic Voyager (Call sign…
Lough Ree Lifeboat Rescues Four From Holed Cruiser
#RNLI - Lough Ree RNLI in Co Westmeath came to the aid of four people yesterday afternoon (Monday 19 May) after their cruiser got into difficulty. The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch shortly before 3.30pm following a report that…
Lough Swilly RNLI in Rescue of Lone Fisherman Found Clinging to Lobster Pot Buoy
rnli – lifeboat crew with Lough Swilly RNLI were involved in the dramatic rescue of a lone fisherman yesterday afternoon (Sunday 18 May 2014) who was found clinging to a lobster pot buoy off Tullagh beach in Clonmany, County Donegal…
Portaferry Lifeboat Rescues Canoeists In Strangford Lough
#RNLI - Portaferry RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew were involved in the rescue of 23 canoeists who got into difficulty just off Castle Island in Strangford Lough yesterday afternoon (Saturday 17 May). The call for help was received at 2.40pm and…
Marine Notice: New Hydrographic Survey In Donegal Bay
#MarineNotice - INFOMAR will undertake a hydrographic and geophysical survey in Donegal Bay next weekend 24-25 May. The RV Celtic Voyager (Call sign EIQN) is expected to carry out the survey operations, which follow up on a previous survey completed…
Search Continues for Man After Rowing Boat Capsizes on Lough Erne
#coastguard – A search is ongoing for a man missing in Lough Erne last night after a boat with six people onboard overturned. Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a 999 call at 6.15pm from a member of the public,…
Crosshaven Lifeboat Rescues Crabber Boat On The Rocks
#rnli – Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat was launched from Cork Harbour at 3.35pm this afternoon to a report of a 21' open crabber boat aground on the rocks East of Trabolgan with 1 person on board. The skipper of the vessel…
Man Rescued from Boat Ablaze off Welsh Coast
#fireonboard – A man has been rescued off the West Wales coast today following a major fire on his boat. The 26ft pleasure boat is still ablaze 600 metres off Aberystwyth and Coastguards are asking all vessels in the area…
Marine Notice: Geophysical Cable Route Survey At Killala Bay
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that a geophysical cable route survey will begin off the Irish coast at Killala Bay on Wednesday 21 May. TE SubCom is scheduled to…
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…

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.