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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Clyde Campaigners To Hold 'Red Flare' Protest Against Coastguard Closure
#COASTGUARD - Campaigners opposed to the closure of the Clyde coastguard station in western Scotland will next Friday hold a red flare protest against the UK government's plans. STV News reports that a flotilla of boats will gather at the…
Irish Coast Guard's New Smartphone App Aims to Save Lives
#COASTGUARD - A new smartphone app from the Irish Coast Guard could save dozens of lives, as the Irish Independent reports. The new technology allows the coastguard to track vessels at sea, and automatically prompts a search and rescue effort…
Crosshaven Lifeboat Responds to Drifting Yacht & Boat with Engine Failure
#lifeboat – Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat were called upon to assist two vessels within two days. The first call came on Wednesday afternoon (22 Aug) after a 16' motor boat suffered mechanical failure behind Haulbowline Island. The boat owner had deployed…
Woman and Child Rescued from Stranded Dinghy in Kinvara
#LIFEBOAT - The Galway Advertiser reports that the Galway RNLI lifeboat came to the rescue of a mother and child from a small dinghy near Kinvara in the south-eastern corner of Galway Bay yesterday. High winds and an offshore breeze…
Bundoran Lifeboat Rescues Trapped Walker
#lifeboat – Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat was this afternoon (Monday 20th August 2012) tasked by Malin Head Coast Guard to an adult female who became trapped on rocks whilst walking near Mullaghmore in County Sligo. The holiday maker was walking along…
Clare Lifesaving Duo Win Gold for Ireland at European Championships
#lifesaving – Ireland has won Gold in the European Lifesaving Championships in Jönköping, Sweden. This outstanding achievement has been achieved by Bernard Cahill and Rory Sexton from Clare. They won their medals in the team beach event which simulates a…
Sligo Bay RNLI Rescues Two From Norwegian Yacht
#LIFEBOATS - The crew of the Sligo Bay RNLI lifeboat rescued two people from a 31ft Norwegian flagged yacht at the weekend. The volunteer lifeboat crew was tasked by Malin Head coastguard shortly after 3.30pm on Saturday 18 August following…
MCIB Again Cites Lack of Lifejackets in Na Buachaillí Capsize Death
#MCIB - Marine investigators have again highlighted the lack of lifejackets as contributing to loss of life in the official report into the capsizing of a fishing vessel off Co Wexford last year. Crewman John Ennis was lost when the…
German Tourist, Yachtsman Rescued in Separate Boating Incidents
#RESCUE - RTÉ News reports that a German tourist missing after his cruiser ran aground on Lough Ree last night has been found safe and well. The man was one of three on board the vessel that grounded close to…
Four Deaths At Sea Set To Be Investigated
#MCIB - The bodies of two fishermen missing off Co Clare have been recovered, as The Irish Times reports. Local divers found the remains shortly before lunchtime yesterday near Spanish Point as coastguard teams searched for a missing fishing boat.…
Met Eireann Issue Weather Warning
#weatherwarning – Met Eireann has issued a small craft warning tonight with a forecast combination of high winds, heavy rainfall, abnormally low pressure and high tides will cause dangerous conditions in south Munster and east Leinster during Wednesday 15th August.…
Father Dies Following Capsize in Enterprise Sailing Dinghy
#rnli – There was a tragic end to an afternoon sail for a father and son in an Enterprise sailing dinghy in West Cork yesterday. As reported earlier on Afloat.ie the Castletownbere lifeboat was launched shortly after 9.30pm on Monday…
Skerries Lifeboat Launches for 'Upturned Boat' Sighting off Gormanstown
#rnli – Last night Skerries RNLI were requested to launch by the Coast Guard following report of a sighting of an upturned boat in the water off Gormanstown, County Meath. A number of the Skerries RNLI Volunteer crew were undergoing…
Body Recovered After Sailing Dinghy Overturns Off West Cork
#MISSING BOATS - The Irish Times reports that the body of a man in his 60s has been recovered from the sea off West Cork in the early hours of this morning. The body, believed to be that of John…
Teen Injured in Water at Kilkee Pier
#RESCUE - A teenage boy was airlifted to hospital yesterday after an incident at Kilkee Pier in Co Clare. The 17-year-old, understood to be from Limerick, sustained a serious injury after diving from the pier into shallow water. The Irish…
Rescuers Guided to Donegal Swimmer By Woman With Binoculars
#RESCUE - The Irish Times reports on the rescue of a swimmer in distress off the Donegal coast thanks to the help of a woman with binoculars. And the RNLI has paid tribute to the Malin Head coastguard unit for…

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.