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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Wicklow Lifeboat Rescues Jetskier After Engine Cuts Out
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's inshore lifeboat launched at 2.25pm yesterday afternoon (Friday 3 July) to assist a jetskier north of the harbour. The jetskier had set off from Wicklow and was about a half mile offshore when the engine cut…
Belfast City Gets Dedicated RNLI Station For Tall Ships Weekend
#RNLI - The RNLI will have a fully operational lifeboat station in Belfast City from 9am tomorrow 2 July right through to Sunday evening 5 July for the Tall Ships Races. With up to 750,000 visitors expected in Belfast over…
Skerries Lifeboat Brings Four To Safety After Yacht Holed By Rocks
#RNLI - Skerries RNLI brought four people to safety on Sunday afternoon (28 June) after their racing yacht began taking on water after striking rocks near one of the islands off Skerries. Volunteers launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis…
Beware of High Tides Caused By the Full Moon
#fullmoon – The warm weather has brought many people out to enjoy the seaside and coastal walks, however the CEO of Irish Water Safety, John Leech is warning the public that there is a full moon tomorrow 2nd of July…
Howth RNLI Lifeboat Rescues Kayakers in Difficulties
#rnli – Howth RNLI inshore lifeboat launched at 4.40pm Monday 29th June to reports of four men in two kayaks in difficulties one mile north of Howth harbour with one of the men in need of medical assistance. The pagers…
RNLI Honours Contribution of Irish Volunteers at the Annual Presentation of Awards in Dublin
#rnli – The RNLI held its Annual Presentation of Awards at the Guinness Storehouse on Saturday where the charity presented 55 awards to volunteers, groups and businesses from across the country that have made a significant contribution to the RNLI…
Ireland's Second Busiest Coastal Lifeboat Station Still Lacks Dedicated Pontoon
#RNLI - Ireland's second busiest coastal lifeboat station is still without a pontoon for the safe boarding and alighting of crew and casualties, as the Sunday Independent reports. Dun Laoghaire RNLI still uses a motor tender to transfer between the…
Union Hall Lifeboat Rescues Five From French Yacht
#RNLI - Union Hall RNLI rescued five men after their yacht was in danger of hitting rocks off the coast of West Cork on Friday evening (26 June). The volunteer lifeboat crew was alerted shortly after 5pm following a report…
Marine Notice: Wave Measuring Device At Dingle Fishery Harbour Centre
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that a wave measuring device has been installed on the seabed at Dingle Fishery Harbour Centre. The wave study is being carried out by…
Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat Assists Six In Early Morning Callout
#RNLI - Rosslare Harbour RNLI assisted six people in the early hours of this morning (Friday 26 June) after their yacht got into difficulty off the Wexford coast. Volunteers were alerted shortly before 2.30am following a report from the Irish…
RNLI Lifeguards Deal With First Major First Aid Incident Ahead Of Summer Season In Northern Ireland
#WaterSafety - RNLI lifeguards commenced full-time summer patrol on 10 beaches in Northern Ireland at the weekend. Following weeks of intensive training in preparation for the new season, the lifeguards will be keeping visitors safe on seven beaches along the…
Man Critical After Fall From Portrane Cliff
#Coastguard - TheJournal.ie reports that a man is in critical condition after a fall from a cliff at Portrane in north Co Dublin last night (Saturday 20 June). The Irish Coast Guard's Dublin-based helicopter Rescue 116 attended the scene with…
Wicklow Lifeboats Launch To Report Of Floating Object
#RNLI - Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats launched yesterday afternoon (Saturday 20 June) at 3.10pm to investigate a report of an object floating in the sea off the beach at Brittas Bay. A vigilant lifeguard on duty at Brittas Bay contacted…
Hot Tub Adrift In English Channel, Vessels Warned
#HotTub - Vessels in the English Channel have been warned to keep watch for a hot tub adrift in the water after a houseboat sank near Brighton this week. On Wednesday 17 June, Newhaven RNLI attended to a tug towing…
Lough Swilly RNLI Lifeboat Rescue Three Fishermen Missing off Donegal Coast
#lifeboat – In the early hours of this morning Lough Swilly RNLI rescued three fishermen who had been reported missing after they failed to return home. It was the first rescue for Lough Swilly RNLI's new Shannon class lifeboat and…
Falmouth Solo Racing Yachtswoman Rescued By Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat
#lifeboat – The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat under Coxswain Sean O Farrell was called out at 7.10 pm yesterday evening to answer a distress call from a yacht that was reported in difficulties off the West Cork Coast, as…

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.