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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Reindeer Run Returns Next Month To Support Dublin's Lifeboats
#RNLI - Due to popular demand, the RNLI Reindeer Run returns this year to raise funds for the lifeboat institution and its volunteer crews in Dublin. The charity event encourages people to have fun while supporting the RNLI in their…
Marine Notice: Corrib Gas Pipeline Works From Corrib Field To Broadhaven Bay
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises of rock placement on the newly installed P3/P6 flowlines at the Corrib gas field, and remedial rock placement on the 20” gas pipeline and…
Wicklow Lifeboat Launches To Fishing Vessel With Engine Failure
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's inshore lifeboat launched at 11.25am yesterday morning (Thursday 16 October) to assist a small fishing boat with engine failure. Speaking after the callout, lifeboat helm Graham Fitzgerald said: "We located the boat with two occupants drifting…
Man Overboard From Rosslare Ferry, Bray Head Climber In Fall
#Rescue - RTÉ News reports on two separate coastal rescues off Rosslare and Bray Head yesterday (Sunday 12 October). One man fell overboard from Irish Ferries' Oscar Wilde ferry sailing out of Rosslare Europort about an hour after leaving port.…
Marine Notice: Statutory Radio Surveys On Irish Sea-Going Vessels
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that it has established a panel of authorised surveyors to conduct statutory radio surveys on Irish sea-going vessels, including fishing vessels. This panel is…
Dunmore East Lifeboat Assists Four On Boat With Engine Trouble
#RNLI - Dunmore East RNLI launched yesterday (Saturday 11 October) to assist four people on a 6m rigid inflatable boat, or RIB, that got into difficulty off the Waterford coast. The RIB, which was lost and suffering engine failure, was…
MCIB Issues Report On Castletownbere Drowning
#MCIB - A poorly positioned lobster pot hauler and failure to maintain a working PFD have been identified among the main contributing factors in the death of a retired schoolteacher and recreational fisherman off West Cork two years ago. That's…
RNLI Prepare Plans for Permanent Lough Derg Lifeboat Station At Dromineer
#rnli – The RNLI are inviting the public to a meetingabout plans for a permanent Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Station in Dromineer . The public will meet the architects/engineers at a consultation on the Station plans for Lough Derg. The meeting will…
Irish Life Savers Win 51 Medals At World Championships in France
#watersafety – Irish Water Safety Life Savers continue to make great progress on the world stage, competing last month at Rescue 2014:  The World Life Saving Championships in Montpelier, France.  Ten years ago at Rescue 04 Team Ireland were delighted…
Wexford Lifeboat Rescues Two From Water In Early Hours
#RNLI - Two people were rescued by Wexford RNLI in the early hours of Friday morning (3 October) after one was seen entering the water in the county town's harbour and another, a trained lifeguard, entered to assist. The volunteer…
Bangor Lifeboat Rescues Two On Stricken Trimaran In Belfast Lough
#RNLI - At 5.25pm yesterday evening (Tuesday 30 September) the Bangor RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew received a request from Belfast Coastguard to assist two people onboard a 28ft trimaran-type yacht. The multihull vessel, consisting of a main hull and two…
Busy Weekend With Two Callouts For Bundoran Lifeboat
#RNLI - The volunteer crew of the Bundoran RNLI lifeboat were called out twice over the weekend to two different incidents, both of which ended well. On Saturday afternoon (27 September) just after 1.40pm, the crew received a report that…
Marine Notice: Corrib Gas Field Baseline Environmental Survey & Post Well Monitoring Survey
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that an environmental survey will take place in the vicinity of the Corrib Gas Field manifold and the Corrib treated surface water outfall diffuser.…
Arklow Lifeboat Rescues Stricken Offshore Powerboat
#RNLI - Following an alert by pager on Sunday 21 September, Arklow RNLI’s lifeboat Ger Tigchlear was launched within minutes to the aid of a powerboat with three persons aboard that was reported to be taking on water. In calm…
RNLI Lifeboat Rescues Cow That Fell From Waterford Cliff
#rnli – Dunmore East RNLI lifeboat in County Waterford rescued a cow on Saturday after she fell off a cliff and became stranded.The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat just before 4pm at the request of the Irish Coast Guard…
Rosslare Lifeboat Tows Stranded Cruiser To Safety
#RNLI - Rosslare Harbour RNLI towed to safety an 8-metre motor cruiser that was stranded off the Wexford coast with three on board on Thursday evening (18 September). The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 9pm to go to…

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.