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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Investigation Into Listing Car-Transporter Begins
#Rescue - An investigation has begun into why the car transporter Hoegh Osaka which as previously reported, ran aground in the Solent last Saturday started to list shortly after departing the Port of Southampton. According to the BBC, the Hoegh…
25 Rescued As Car Transporter Lists In Solent
#Rescue - BBC News reports that the crew of a car transporter ship that ran aground on a sandbank in the Solent last night (Saturday 3 January) have been brought to safety. One of the 25-strong crew was hospitalised with…
Wicklow RNLI Holds Annual New Year’s Day Service Of Remembrance
#RNLI - A week after Dun Laoghaire RNLI remembered those who lost their lives at sea, Wicklow RNLI held its annual New Year's Day service of remembrance this past Thursday. The ceremony began with a short religious prayer conducted by…
New 'LocateMe112' Service Helps Locate Emergency Callers Via Smartphone
#Rescue - Casualties in remote or unfamiliar locations can now be found and treated quicker than ever before thanks to a new software solution for smartphones developed by the Air Corps and the HSE. The video report from RTÉ News…
Video Looks Back On Busy 2014 For Ireland's Lifeboats
#Lifeboats - The RNLI in Ireland has put together this thrilling looking back at its year of rescues in 2014 as their lifeboat crews saw it themselves via helmet- or boat-mounted cameras. Among the callouts featured here involving inshore and…
Stormy Autumn Contributed To Record 2014 Coast Guard Response Statistics
#coastguard – The Coast Guard has seen a record response for 2014, with it being particularly relevant to the Shannon SAR Helicopter who flew the Bases 300th mission last week. As Afloat.ie already reported two days ago, the Coast Guard…
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) – Maritime Declarations of Health For Ships Docking at Irish Ports
#ebola – The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been requested to publicise the attached (downloadable below as a word file) Health Service Executive letter regarding the submission of a Maritime Declaration of Health for ships docking at Irish ports, which…
Another Record Year For Irish Coast Guard In 2014
#Coastguard - The Irish Coast Guard has reported another record year for both missions flown and lives saved, according to the Irish Examiner. Among the stats announced by the rescue service for 2014 is a 72% increase in the number…
Mediterranean Ferry With 466 Passengers 'Evacuated' After Fire
#Rescue - Some 466 people were being evacuated this morning from a car ferry that reported a fire on board while sailing from Greece to Italy this morning, according to RTÉ News. As of 8am this morning Irish time, 130…
Making A Better Kill Cord
#KillCord - Kill cords are an invaluable safety feature for both professional and leisure boat helms, but the system is far from perfect. It's easy to neglect to attach them, as was the case in last year's RIB tragedy in…
Clifden RNLI Lifeboat Help Inishturk Resident Spend Christmas at Home
#rnli – Clifden RNLI lifeboat crew had their first callout in their new all weather lifeboat last night (Tuesday 23 December) to bring a local GP to provide urgent and immediate medical attention to an elderly resident on Inishturk Island.…
Portaferry Lifeboat Rescues Man Caught Out By Tide
#RNLI - Portaferry RNLI has rescued a man who got caught out by the tide yesterday afternoon (Monday 22 December). The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 2.24pm following a report of person in the…
Man Rescued From Liffey In Dublin City Centre
#Rescue - TheJournal.ie reports on the rescue of a man from the River Liffey in Dublin city centure this afternoon (Monday 22 December). The Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) responded to the scene between the Ha'penny and Millennium Bridges not long…
Kilmore Quay Lifeboat Launches To American Yacht In Early Hours
#RNLI - Volunteers at Kilmore Quay RNLI were called upon to go to the aid of an American yacht with three people on board in the early hours of Wednesday 17 December. The 42-foot yacht, which was on passage from…
Poor Navigation Standards On Container Ship Grounded On Arklow Bank Says MCIB Report
#MCIB - Lack of adherence to standard navigation procedures led to the grounding of a German-owned container ship on the Arklow Bank in January this year, according to the official report into the incident. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the…
Surfer Found Safe And Sound In Lahinch Beach Search
#Coastguard - The Clare Herald reports on the happy outcome after a search for a missing surfer near Lahinch yesterday afternoon (Monday 15 December). Members of the Irish Coast Guard's Doolin unit began combing the beaches of Lahinch after an…

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.