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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Man and Son Rescued from Capsized Fishing Boat
#coastguard – A man and his teenage son have been rescued from their upturned fishing boat this afternoon on the Irish Sea. Liverpool Coastguard received a call at 12.45 pm to report that the man and his son were on…
Lifeboats Old and New Meet on the Aran Islands
#RNLI –  A surprise return visit to the Aran Islands was made recently by former Galway Bay RNLI lifeboat Frank Spiller Locke.  This restored Barnett class lifeboat was stationed at the Aran Islands from 1977 to 1985.  She was previously…
Young Girl Dies in Hospital After Incident on Co Antrim Beach
#WATER SAFETY - The Belfast Telegraph reports that an 11-year-old girl has died in an accident at the seaside near Portballintrae in Co Antrim. The young girl, who has not yet been named, was taken to hospital in critical condition…
Family Outing to Cape Clear Ends in Lifeboat Tow Home
#rnli – A family outing to Cape Clear Island became a distress call this evening. The Merry Fisher 6.5 metre motorboat experienced difficulties with her fuel line when en route from Cape Clear Island to White Hall. Taking precautionary action…
NI Lifeboat Assists Injured Woman on Belfast Lough
#rnli – Volunteer lifeboat crews received a urgent request from Belfast Coastguard on Thursday to launch Bangor and Donaghadee lifeboats and give vital medical assistance to a women who had fallen on the Copeland Island. Within minutes of the rescue…
Donegal TD Seeks Guarantee Over Proposed Malin Coastguard Closure
#COASTGUARD - A Donegal TD has asked the Government for assurances on the future of the coastguard station at Malin Head, as the Donegal Democrat reports. Fianna Fáil's Charlie McConalogue, the Deputy for Donegal North-East, said the recent 'value for…
Two Men Rescued After RIB Collides with Yacht on Strangford Lough
#rnli – Portaferry RNLI in County Down rescued two men in the early hours of this morning (Friday, 13 July) after a report that a rigid inflatable boat had collided with a yacht in Strangford Lough just off Killyleagh. The…
Woman Airlifted from Cruise Liner in Galway Bay
#COASTGUARD - Galway Bay FM reports that an elderly woman was airlifted by the coastguard from a cruise liner in Galway Bay yesterday morning. It's believed that the passenger was experiencing cardiac problems. The woman is a passenger on the…
Teenager Drowns in Derry Reservoir Tragedy
#WATER SAFETY - Summer swimmers have been urged not to underestimate the coldness of the water after a teenager drowned in a Co Derry reservoir in the early hours of this morning. BBC News reports that emergency crews were called…
Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Cruiser When Engine Overheats
Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat was launched to assist 3 persons aboard a 32ft cruiser that had an engine overheating problem. #rnl i– Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested by Valentia Coast Guard to assist 3 persons on board a 32ft…
Man Rescued After Fall On Rocks in Co Down Coast
#RESCUE - A man has been rescued after falling on rocks and into the sea near Sheepland Harbour in Ardlass, Co Down yesterday 7 July. BBC News reports that local lifeboat crews from the RNLI joined the Belfast coastguard and…
Irish Coast Guard Ill-Prepared for Major Pollution Incident
#COASTGUARD - The Irish Coast Guard is ill-prepared to respond to any major pollution incident off our coastline, according to a report commissioned by the Government. As Lorna Siggins writes in The Irish Times on Friday, the report identified weaknesses…
One Hundred Attend Black Tie Lifeboat Fundraiser at Royal Cork Yacht Club
#rnli – One of Crosshaven RNLI's major fundraising events of the year was held on Saturday evening last, with a black tie Dinner at the Royal Cork Yacht Club. The event was held in conjunction with the Cork Week regatta…
West Cork Coastguard Gets New Station and Rescue Helicopter
#COASTGUARD - The four-year-old son of a coastguard volunteer who died tragically in March was the first civilian to board the latest addition to the Irish Coast Guard's helicopter fleet in West Cork last weekend. As the Irish Examiner reports,…
Bangor Lifeboat Rescues Three from Speedboat at Black Head
#rnli – At lunchtime today Bangor lifeboat crew received a urgent request from Belfast Coastguard to launch the lifeboat and rescue 3 people onboard a 15ft speed boat. The dory type vessel had experience 'catastrophic' engine failure close to Black…
Kinsale Inshore Lifeboat Rescues Man in Difficulty off Castlepark
#rnli – Lifeboat crew at Kinsale RNLI saved a man this afternoon (Tuesday 3 July) following reports that a person was seen in difficulty in the water at Castlepark. The lifeboat was launched at 4.30pm following a request from the…

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.