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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Daniel Whelan is Clifden RNLI’s newest coxswain
Clifden RNLI’s call-out on Wednesday evening (14 August) for a medevac from Inishbofin was the first under the command of Daniel Whelan, since his passing out as coxswain a few weeks ago. Chris Nee also served as mechanic for the…
The Ballycotton RNLI's all-weather Trent class lifeboat, The Austin Lidbury with the broken down yacht alongside
The Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat launched on Thursday, 15th August, after receiving a distress call from the skipper of a yacht. The vessel, which was en route from Wexford to Schull in West Cork, had suffered engine failure just a mile…
Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat passes Ardnakinna Lighthouse, located on Bere Island, County Cork, at the western entrance to Castletownbere on its way to assist a fishing vessel with a damaged propellor
The Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat was called into action on Tuesday morning, August 13th, to aid a fishing vessel in distress located 18 miles southwest of the major West Cork fishing port. The Valentia Coastguard Maritime Coordination Rescue Centre requested assistance…
The Crosshaven RNLI crew pass Roches Point at the entrance to Cork Harbour
On the evening of August 13th, the Coast Guard received a distress call from Roberts Cove, reporting a person in an inflatable dinghy waving for help. The Crosshaven RNLI volunteer crew in Cork Harbour, consisting of Warren Forbes, Gary Heslin, Caoimhe…
Rosslare Harbour RNLI brings the yacht safely under tow to Rosslare Europort
Rosslare Harbour RNLI, the Irish Coast Guard’s Rescue 117 helicopter crew from Waterford and a fishing boat crew came to the aid of two people onboard a yacht which was taking on water in heavy seas 20 miles south-east of…
Coastguard Rescue helicopter R117 is involved in the search (file pic)
Tragedy struck this morning (Tuesday, August 13th) as the body of a kayaker, a man in his 60s, was recovered near Dungarvan in Co Waterford. The kayaker had set out from Ceann Heilbhic yesterday and was reported missing after failing…
Wicklow all-weather lifeboat RNLB Bridie O’Shea responded to two separate incidents involving vessels in distress at the weekend
Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat volunteers were called to action over the weekend to respond to two separate incidents involving vessels in distress. The first incident took place on Saturday, August 10th, when both lifeboats were launched to investigate reports of a…
Portaferry RNLI received a cheque for £3,700 from Killyleigh Yacht Club
Portaferry RNLI welcomed members of Killyleagh Yacht Club to the boathouse on Northern Ireland’s Ards Peninsila last week to present a cheque for £3,700 to help power the station’s lifesaving work at sea. The money was raised during the club’s annual…
A scene from 2023’s Emergency Services Open Day in Bundoran
Bundoran RNLI’s volunteers will once again team up with their emergency services colleagues to host the annual Emergency Services Open Day at the pier in Bundoran on Sunday 25 August from 1pm to 4pm. The popular free event, which attracts…
Enniskillen RNLI approaches the jet ski reported in difficulty near Lusty Beg
Enniskillen RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, the John and Jean Lewis, was launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard at 5.51pm on Thursday last (1 August) following reports that a jet skier had got into difficulty close to Lusty Beg. The weather…
Bristow Ireland says all heavy maintenance requirements for the fleet of six Leonardo AW189 Irish Coast Guard helicopters (above) will be carried out in the new facility at Weston Airport
Bristow Ireland Ltd has said its new search and rescue (SAR) base at Weston airport on the outskirts of Dublin is “more suitable” for SAR operations. The company which is taking over the new Irish Coast Guard SAR contract recently…
The scroll is visiting every lifeboat station in a relay-style event, and Saturday 10 August was the turn of Carrybridge on Lough Erne
On Saturday 10 August, RNLI representatives from Carrybridge RNLI in Northern Ireland, including from the retail and fundraising branch as well as the station’s water safety officer took part in the next stage of the RNLI’s ‘Connecting our Communities’ relay-style…
Skerries RNLI approaching an adult and two children on a paddle board on Friday 9 August
Skerries RNLI volunteers responded to incidents involving inflatable paddle boards last Wednesday (7 August) and Friday (9 August), bringing three adults and four children to safety. On Wednesday, shortly after 3pm, Dublin Coast Guard received a 999 call from a…
File image of Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat
Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Leonard Kent was launched on Thursday evening (8 August) after the coastguard received a request for assistance from a yacht which had suffered engine failure. The volunteer crew were requested to launch at around 7.10pm following…
The Irish Coast Guard Dublin search and rescue (SAR) base has been moved from Dublin Airport to Weston airstrip, where the new AW189 aircraft will operate
As Bristow Ireland prepares to take over the new Irish Coast Guard helicopter search and rescue contract, there is reported concern among staff with existing operator CHC Ireland about their employment terms. The Journal.ie reports that air crew represented by…
Achill Island RNLI all-weather lifeboat
Achill Island RNLI were requested by the Irish Coast Guard to assist with the medical evacuation of a teenage boy from Clare Island in the early hours of Saturday, 10th August. The call-out was the third medevac from the Island…

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.