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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Coastguard Rescues Two After Howth Cliff Fall
#Coastguard - The Irish Examiner reports on an Irish Coast Guard callout to rescue two men who got into difficulty on Howth Head yesterday evening (Friday 27 March). One of the men in their 20s had apparently fallen on the…
Irish Sailors Called on to Help RNLI With Research
#lifeboat – A new research project being run by the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) is exploring attitudes towards risk and safety, and the various ways in which yacht sailors participate in their sport. Over 620 recreational sailors were rescued by…
Irish Coast Guard Valentia MRSC Commemorated After 100 Years of Service
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, today marked the commemoration of 100 years of services at the Irish Coast Guard Valentia Marine Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC). A plaque unveiled by Minister Donohoe pays tribute to all the…
Minister Opens New Coast Guard Unit in Doolin
#coastguard – Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe T.D has opened the newly-built Coast Guard Station in Doolin, Co Clare. As one of the busiest Coast Guard Units in the country, this new facility provides the local Volunteer…
Three Escape Injury As Yacht Runs Aground In Dublin Bay
#Rescue - A yacht was towed to safety by the Dun Laoghaire RNLI lifeboat this afternoon (Wednesday 25 March) after it hit rocks on the South Bull Wall at the entrance to Dublin Port. Three people were on board the…
Trans-Atlantic Subsea Fiber Optic 'Hibernia Express Cable System' Work Underway
#HiberniaExpress – The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been advised that TE SubCom, on behalf of Hibernia Express, is scheduled to carry out a Route Clearance Operation and a Pre Lay Grapnel Run along the Hibernia Express cable route…
Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat Tows Lone Yachtsman To Safety
#RNLI - Rosslare Harbour RNLI was requested by the Irish Coast Guard to assist a 12-metre yacht which had lost all power due to a generator failure at 12.50am in the early hours of this morning (Monday 23 March). The…
Howth Lifeboat Rescues Three From Grounded Motorboat
#RNLI - Howth RNLI's all-weather lifeboat launched at 6.30pm yesterday evening (Sunday 22 March) to reports a motorboat was taking on water at the entrance to Malahide Estuary. The vessel with three people aboard, which had run aground, was quickly located…
Red Bay RNLI Lifeboat Crew Rescue Walkers on Fair Head
#redbayrnli – Lifeboat crew with Red Bay RNLI launched this afternoon to go to the aid of three walkers who got into difficulty on the Boulder Field at Fair Head, County Antrim. The two men and one teenager raised the…
Couple Say 'I Do' After Meeting, Saving Lives At Sea With Clifden Lifeboat
#RNLI - The Clifden RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew scrambled into their kit for a special callout recently when they provided a guard of honour for their two fellow lifeboat crew Alan Pryce and Sinéad O’Sullivan, who tied the knot in…
Lough Swilly RNLI To Welcome First Shannon Class Lifeboat to Ireland
#rnli – Final preparations are being put in place for 'the Homecoming', which will see Lough Swilly RNLI receive the first Shannon class lifeboat in Ireland. The station is planning a special celebration, as the €2.4 million lifeboat arrives into…
President Will Open County Clare Lifesaving Training Centre
#lifesaving – President Michael D. Higgins will officially open a new Lifesaving Training Centre at White Strand, Miltown Malbay, Co Clare this afternoon.  The centre will train Lifeguards and the general public in Irish Water Safety's syllabus for swimming, water…
RNLI Lifeboat Seeks Mayday Volunteers
#rnilmayday – The RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea, is issuing its own call for help, appealing for volunteers and fundraisers to get involved with 'Mayday', the organisation's forthcoming national fundraising event which will take place from 1–4…
Champion Bodyboarder Airlifted From Clare Coastal Cliff
#Rescue - A world champion bodyboarder was airlifted to hospital from the base of a Doonbeg cliff earlier this week after suffering an injury in the water off the Clare coast. The Clare Herald has more on the incident, telling…
Women Wanted For Northern Ireland Lifeboat Crews
#Lifeboats - Donaghadee's lifeboat station is putting out a new call for volunteers - and women are particularly welcome, as UTV News reports. The Ards Peninsula town, just outside of Belfast Lough, hosts one of Northern Ireland's nine RNLI lifeboat…
Bangor Lifeboat Launched To Search For Missing Vessel
#RNLI - RNLI Bangor's lifeboat launched at 7.55pm last night (Saturday 14 March) to search for a missing 12ft RIB with two persons on board after the alarm was raised by Belfast Coastguard. Within minutes of the rescue pagers being…

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.