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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Severe Weather Prevents Coastguard Medevac From Spanish Fishing Boat
#Coastguard - TheJournal.ie reports that yesterday's severe storm conditions forced two Irish Coast Guard helicopters to stand down a mission to retrieve an ill fisherman from a Spanish trawler 100 miles off the west coast last night (27 December). A…
Dublin Rescue Helicopter In Christmas Eve Medevac
#Coastguard - The Howth unit of the Irish Coast Guard reports that it was tasked to assist the Dublin-based rescue helicopter with a medical evacuation landing on Christmas Eve. Rescue 116 landed at the OBI fire brigade training college on…
Bundoran RNLI Urges Safety Over The Christmas Break
#Safety - Bundoran RNLI is among those urging water users to exercise common sense and safety over the current holiday period as persistent stormy weather makes sea conditions treacherous around the Irish coast. With water hobby gifts like surfboards, bodyboards…
Belfast Coastguard Short-Staffing Raises Concerns
#Coastguard - Belfast Coastguard was staffed "at below risk assessed levels" on eight separate occasions last month, as the Belfast Telegraph reports. The upsetting news was revealed by Britain's Transport Minister Stephen Hammon in response to a parliamentary question on…
Driver Rescued On Achill Island As Car Goes Into Deep Water
#Rescue - The Irish Times reports on a "lucky escape" in Co Mayo yesterday (22 December) after a car plunged into deep water on Achill Island. The driver of the vehicle was quickly rescued by the island's Irish Coast Guard unit…
Christmas Eve RNLI Lifeboat Ceremony Remembers Lives Lost off Dun Laoghaire
#rnli – The crew of the RNLI lifeboat station at Dun Laoghaire will hold their annual ceremony to remember the 15 volunteers that died on service in 1895 on Christmas Eve as well as all those who lost their lives…
Important Safety Information for the Attention of Users of Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons
The Irish Maritime Administration of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport wishes to bring important safety information to the attention of users of Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs). The purpose of this notice is:-• to highlight the importance of regular maintenance of EPIRBs…
Irish Water Safety Issues Christmas Survival Guide
#irishwatersafety – The Christmas season is a time when thousands of people around the country must take extra care when taking part in sponsored swims in support of the many charitable causes. Thousands more are at risk when taking walks…
Christmas Carol Could Save Your Life, Says Coastguard
#coastguard – Her Majesty's Coastguard is giving you the gift of safety this Christmas. Coastguards have produced their very own Christmas carol video, with 12 top safety tips Last year, Coastguards dealt with 430 search and rescue incidents over the Christmas…
Holyhead Lifeboat's Decade Of Lifesaving
#RNLI - Holyhead RNLI volunteers are coming together to mark the 10th anniversary of their all-weather lifeboat that safeguards waters familiar to many an Irish ferry passenger. To celebrate the milestone, the volunteer RNLI crew have commissioned a decorative bell…
Bushmills Anglers Raise Funds For Portrush Lifeboat
#RNLI - Portrush RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew received a cheque for £1,052 (€1,249) from Bushmills District and Angling Club recently. The club, which collects donations throughout the year or the lifesaving charity, made the presentation to Portrush lifeboat operations manager…
End Of An Era As Irish Coast Guard's Last S61 Retires
#Coastguard - It was the end of an era yesterday (10 December) as the last remaining Sikorsky S61 search and rescue (SAR) helicopter in the Irish Coast Guard fleet stood its final SAR watch since services began in 1991 and…
MCIB Publish Report on M.V. Huelin Dispatch
#MCIBreport – A report into the 2012 incident of the Irish flagged "MV Huelin Dispatch" has been recently published by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board. As reported on Afloat.ie, the then brand new containership during its maiden voyage to the…
Festive Cheer At RNLI's Dublin Reindeer Run
#RNLI - Nearly 1,000 people from all over Leinster and beyond took part in the annual RNLI Reindeer Run at Marlay Park on Sunday 1 December. It was a sea of festive red as entrants in the 5K, 10K and…
Wicklow Lifeboat Aids Fishermen, Courtown Volunteers Recognised
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's all-weather lifeboat launched shortly after 12.20pm on Friday 29 November to go to the assistance of a stranded fishing vessel. The lifeboat crew located a vessel drifting nine miles south east of Wicklow Head after 1pm. The…
Two Cancer Survivors Who Sailed Round Ireland Raise €8,255 for the RNLI
Two incredible Limerick men who have both battled cancer have presented the RNLI and two cancer charities with a cheque for €8,255 each after they successfully sailed round Ireland. The two friends Chris Egan and Dave Bevan from Foynes 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.