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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Canadian Canoes Swamped Crossing Strangford Lough
#canoe – An overnight trip to Salt Island ended prematurely when five Canadian canoes were swamped by waves as they crossed Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland.At just after 12 noon a member of the public called 999 to report that…
Radio Surveyors Panel to Be Established By Irish Maritime Administration
#radiosurveyor –The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport  is establishing a panel of radio surveyors for 2014 and the closing date for applications is in three weeks time. Surveyors will carry out statutory radio surveys on Irish sea-going vessels including fishing vessels.…
Courtown Lifeboat Rescues Driver From Submerged Dump Truck
#RNLI - Courtown RNLI's lifeboat was launched on Saturday evening (1 March) to reports of a dump truck submerged off Ardamine Beach in the Wexford town. The driver of the 25-tonne dump truck had managed to get out of the cab and…
Bangor Lifeboats Rescues Four From Stricken RIB
#RNLI - Bangor RNLI received a request from Belfast Coastguard yesterday evening (1 March) to launch their lifeboat and assist four people onboard a 23ft rigid inflatable boat, or RIB, that experienced engine failure north of Ballyholme Bay on the…
RNLI Surfers Survival Clinics Return To The Causeway Coast
#WaterSafety - The RNLI will host four free Surfers Survival Clinics next weekend, Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March, on the East Strand in Portrush. The clinics, which are run by the charity’s lifeguards, are open to surfing enthusiasts of…
Coastguard Airlifts Injured Fisherman From Norwegian Trawler
#Coastguard - TheJournal.ie reports that the Irish Coast Guard was involved in the rescue of an injured fisherman from a Norwegian trawler hundreds of miles off the west coast in the early hours Monday (24 February). Coastguard helicopter Rescue 115…
Despite Storm Damage 'Happy Baltimore' Village Turns Out to Dance
#dancingRNLI – Despite its battering at the hands of the winter storms Baltimore's maritime community made the best of things by producing an upbeat video to show how resilient the little village is.Filmed on 16th February 2014 hours after storms…
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Recruiting Lifeguards For Summer 2014
#Lifeguards - Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is currently recruiting lifeguards for the summer season 2014. Appointments will be made from a panel of successful candidates, each of whom must be at least 17 years of age on 13 May 2014…
Portrush Lifeboat Helm Trained To Help With Flood Rescue
#RNLI - Portrush RNLI volunteer Karl O’Neill is becoming one of the RNLI's all-rounders, for as well as being helm for the Portrush inshore lifeboat and senior RNLI lifeguard, he is now a part of the lifesaving charity's Flood Rescue…
Wicklow Lifeboat Attends Fishing Boat With Engine Failure
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's all-weather lifeboat launched shortly before 4pm yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 19 February) to assist a fishing vessel in difficulties off Wicklow Head. The skipper of the fishing vessel contacted the Irish Coast Guard for assistance after his…
Passenger Ship Tendering Requirement Details
#tender – The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport wishes to advise Shipowners, Ship Operators, Shipmasters, Harbour Masters and Ships' agents of the requirements for passenger ships engaged in the tendering of passengers between the ship and shore. All tender…
Clare Lifeguards Set New Records at Lifesaving Championships
#lifeguards – Lifesaving teams from 17 counties competed on Sat 15th Feb 2014 in Irish Water Safety's National Irish Pool Lifesaving Championships. An action-filled day of events saw 240 of Ireland's fittest Lifesavers compete at the University of Limerick's 50-metre…
Marine Notice: Revisions To Performance Standards For Emergency Beacons On Small Fishing Vessels
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises on revisions to the performance standards for emergency beacons on small fishing vessels. The revision includes the carriage requirements of manual/automatic activation float-free Emergency…
Irish Water Safety Warns Public to Stay Away From Edge of Waterways
#watersafety – Irish Water Safety is warning the public that to stay SAFE they must stay away from the edges of waterways during storm conditions that are even more dangerous due to heavy rain, strong gale force winds and high…
Clifden RNLI Lifeboat Rescues Four Fish Farmers in Extreme Weather
#rescue – Clifden RNLI in county Galway has rescued four fish farmers after they got into difficulty in extreme weather conditions this afternoon. The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their inshore Atlantic 85 lifeboat at 1.44pm today (Wednesday…
Coast Guard Appeal to Exercise Caution During 'Red Alert' Severe Weather
#storm – Members of the public have been urged to exercise extreme caution on exposed coastal areas this afternoon as Met Éireann issues an red alert. Met Éireann has a red weather alert in force. Coastal areas will experience winds…

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.