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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Suspected Engine Fire Leads to Yacht Rescue off Dun Laoghaire
#RNLI – Lifeboats at Dun Laoghaire were called out yesterday following a distress call from a yacht with a suspected fire on board. The incident took place shortly after mid-day while a second call for a kitesurfer in difficulty was…
Two Dead In Separate Incidents At Sea On Thursday
#Coastguard - The Irish Times reports on the death of a local fisherman off the Waterford coast on Thursday morning in an incident that prompted a major coastguard and lifeboat search and rescue operation - six years to the day…
Sea Trials Won't Weather New Shannon Class Lifeboat
#Lifeboats - The video above shows off a prototype of the RNLI's new lifeboat class, the Shannon, as it undergoes sea trials to determine how it handles the rough weather all too common to the seas around the UK and…
Lough Ree Locals Praise New RNLI Lifeboat Station
#Lifeboats - RTÉ News has a video report on a memorial to lives lost on the Shannon recently installed at the location of Lough Ree's new lifeboat station. Relatives of those lost to the waterway spoke of their appreciation for…
Fishermen Rescued off Hook Head, County Waterford
#rnli – Lifeboat crew from Dunmore East and Fethard RNLI were involved in the rescue of four fishermen whose vessel got into difficulty in county Waterford early this morning. Shortly after 8am, volunteer lifeboat crew from Dunmore East and Fethard…
Howth Coast Guard Reviews A Busy 2012
#Coastguard - Howth Coast Guard responded to 53 calls throughout 2012, with its 25 volunteers clocking up more than 4,000 man hours. In its review of the year, the north Dublin unit of the Irish Coast Guard noted that while…
Dramatic Donegal Rescue Marks Busy Start to 2012 for Coastguard
#Coastguard - The Irish Coast Guard has had a busy first few days of the New Year with a number of incidents around the country, including a dramatic search and rescue incident in Donegal. Carlow man Cormac Nolan was rescued…
161 Lives Saved by Irish Coast Guard in 2012
#Coastguard - The Irish Times reports that the Irish Coast Guard saved 161 lives since January this year. It was also the busiest year on record or the coastguard search and rescue service, with 1,963 call-outs in the past 12…
Howth Family Dedication to RNLI Lifeboat Service
#rnli – One Howth family gives 142 years dedicated service to saving lives with the RNLI. As a charity, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) depends on the selfless dedication of volunteers, like the Duffys of Howth, to risk their…
Safety Measures Highlighted In Report On Angler's Death
#MCIB - The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has again advised recreational boat users to prioritise safety while on the water following the death of an angler on Lough Corrib earlier this year. Clarifying the story previously reported on Afloat.ie,…
Fishing Vessel Crew Rescued off Campbeltown Loch
#rescue – Four fishermen were rescued by Campbeltown RNLI Lifeboat in the early hours of this morning after their fishing vessel began taking on water off Campbeltown Loch. The vessel broadcast a mayday message at 2.30 am this morning reporting…
Belfast Lough RNLI Honoured with Diamond Jubilee Medals
#lifeboat – A combined total of 360 years service to the Royal national Lifeboat Institution by twenty members of the Bangor Lifeboat Station was recognised at a presentation of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medals at the Royal Ulster Yacht Club.…
Wexford Lifeboat Rescue Woman & 'Holly' the Dog From Harbour
#rnli –  A 29–year–old woman and her dog were rescued by Courtown RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew from the water at Courtown Harbour last night (Monday 17 December) after a twenty minute ordeal in freezing conditions. The local woman went to…
Santa Arrives in Wicklow on a Lifeboat
#santa – Plenty of festive cheer at Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Station this afternnon with the arrival of Father Christmas for his annual visit. Many of the crew's children gathered on the East pier to greet Santa as he arrived on…
HM Coastguard Awarded Queen's Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award
#coastguard – 'It has been announced by Her Majesty The Queen that the volunteer Coastguard Rescue Service which is part of Her Majesty's Coastguard has been awarded The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award 2012. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award…
Water Safety Survival Guide this Christmas
#watersafety – The Christmas season is a time when thousands of people around the country must take extra care when taking part in sponsored swims in support of many charitable causes. Thousands more are at risk when taking walks by…

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.