Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Baltimore RNLI’s Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat
Two Baltimore women are running a virtual relay race around Ireland for their local lifeboat, after the annual charity walk was cancelled over coronavirus restrictions. Anna Carthy and Odharnait Collins are now on day three their ‘Race to Raise’ in…
For sale: One Seal 22 in aid of the RNLI
Thanks to the generosity of Ivon and Jane Roberts from Rosscarbery, County Cork, you now can be the next owner as the couple has donated their boat Decade to Union Hall RNLI. Ivon and Jane bought Decade on their tenth…
Stay Safe On Or Near The Water With Handy Website Advice & Checklists
Before you take part in any water-based activity this summer, or any time of year, you should consider what you need to do in order to stay safe while on or near the water. Depending on whether you are actually…
Irish-Made Lifejacket Is Latest Addition To O’Sullivans Marine’s Range
The Mullion Stream 150N is the latest addition to the range of competitively priced, Irish-produced lifejackets at O’Sullivans Marine. The Mullion Stream 150N automatic inflatable lifejacket is a constant-wear, all-weather lifejacket for general use with foul-weather clothing. It comes in a…
Independence of Marine Casualty Investigation Board 'Not Guaranteed', European Court of Justice Rules
The European Court of Justice has ruled the State’s marine incident investigating body is not independent due to the presence of two civil servants on its board. In a judgment issued late last week, the European Court of Justice (ECJ)…
Rescue 116 winchman Derek Everitt in a still from a short film by Vertical Magazine last October
Vertical Magazine has shared video of a roundtable discussion on helicopter rescues from earlier this year, featuring a member of the Rescue 116 crew with the Irish Coast Guard. Helicopter winchman Derek Everitt was in attendance at the HAI Heli-Expo…
Coastguard and lifeboat crews attending the scene at the Forty Foot yesterday
Dun Laoghaire’s coastguard unit was tasked yesterday (Sunday 12 July) to assist paramedics with a casualty who had fallen down steps at the Forty Foot bathing spot. Dun Laoghaire RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was also in attendance at the scene, where…
A towline was established and the yacht with two sailors was brought safely alongside the East pier at Wicklow harbour
A 20ft sailing yacht with two people onboard was brought to safety by Wicklow RNLI this afternoon (Sunday 12 July). The inshore lifeboat launched at 11:45 am with Graham Fitzgerald (helm) and crew Alan Goucher and John Stapleton to reports…
File image of Kinsale RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Miss Sally Anne Baggy II
A motorboat with four on board which was overcome by poor weather was towed to safety by Kinsale RNLI volunteers this past week. The inshore lifeboat Miss Sally Anne Baggy II was requested to launch shortly after 11.30am on Wednesday…
Baltimore RNLI at the East Skeam Medevac
Baltimore RNLI was called out to a medical evacuation earlier this evening (Thursday 9 July) after a teenage girl fell nearly 10 metres down a blow hole on East Skeam Island, off the coast of Baltimore in West Cork. The…
The Ocean Navigator is one of two vessels conducting the DeSIRE Survey from 13-26 July
The latest Marine Notice from the Irish Maritime Administration advises that the Developing Site Investigation Methodologies (DeSIRE) Survey will be carried out in the North Irish Sea from next Monday 13 July. This two-week survey will use seismic refraction and…
Lough Ree RNLI crew
Lough Ree RNLI brought a drifting motor cruiser to safety on Saturday night. At 9.35 pm on Saturday, (4 July) Lough Ree RNLI volunteers were requested by Malin Head Coast Guard to reports of a motor cruiser adrift near Portrunny…
On Thursday evening the Coastguard and the Police Service investigated reports of concern for a kayaker seen the Ballywalter area of County Down
Last Thursday and Friday were busy days for Bangor Coastguard on Belfast Lough with an incident on both days. On Thursday evening the Coastguard and the Police Service investigated reports of concern for a kayaker seen the Ballywalter area in…
Arranmore RNLI Coxswain Jimmy Early with his son Lee
A new all-weather RNLI lifeboat, which will be permanently based at Clifden in Connemara, will proudly carry the names of up to 10,000 people, placed on it by their loved ones. The Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, which will be built…
 John Killeen, the newly-elected Chairman of Irish Lifeboats, at his home station on the morning of Wednesday July 1st 2020
Dr John Killeen of Galway, noted engineer, businessman, national administrator and sailing enthusiast, has been elected as Chairman of Irish Lifeboats in succession to David Delamer of Howth, with the Galwayman also continuing in his role as a member of…
Lough Derg RNLI
Lough Derg RNLI assists a family of four on a 32ft cruiser that ran aground by Parker’s Point, on the Tipperary shore. At 5.35 pm today, Wednesday, July 1, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to go to 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.