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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
The DfT Rescue Shield is presented to Shetland-based coastguard teams for the sixth time
HM Coastguard rescue teams from Lerwick, Hillswick and Sumburgh, the search and rescue helicopter crew from Sumburgh and staff from the Coastguard Operations Centre in Shetland have been awarded the prestigious UK Department for Transport Rescue Shield by Brian Johnson,…
Tony Hiney (left) is presented with a canvas photograph of Clifden’s new Shannon lifeboat
Members of the Connemara/Clifden RNLI Lifeboats Fundraising Branch gathered at the Station House Hotel in Clifden recently to acknowledge the contributions and retirements of some longstanding members. Area fundraising manager Tony Hiney, who is himself set to retire this year,…
Youghal RNLI help to recover  the yacht
Youghal RNLI was tasked at 11.58 am on Friday 8 November by the Coast Guard to help assist them in recovering a yacht that had gone aground at Harvey’s Dock after becoming loose from its moorings. In calm and clear…
Revisions To Code Of Practice For The Safe Operation Of Recreational Craft
The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport reminds water users of amendments to the 2017 edition of the Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft. The Code of Practice is a valuable…
James Fegan, Crosshaven RNLI with Hugh Tully, Chairman Crosshaven RNLI alongside Owen & Maeve Hackett, Kinsale RNLI, at the RNLI Fundraising Lunch 2019, Maryborough Hotel & Spa, Douglas, 1st November 2019
The popular Cork RNLI fundraising lunch and auction, which took place at the Maryborough Hotel last week (Friday, 1 November), proved a huge success, raising €15,100 for the life-saving charity. The event was attended by two hundred guests who came…
Aran Islands RNLI All-weather lifeboat
Aran Islands RNLI has responded to consecutive calls for help today to carry out two medical evacuations. The volunteer crew were first asked to launch their all-weather lifeboat David Kirkaldy, at 11.25 am by the Irish Coast Guard. An elderly…
The lifeboat crew set up an astern tow and took the boat from the rocks and into safe waters
At 3.40 pm yesterday Lough Derg RNLI was requested by Valentia Coast Guard to go to the assistance of two people whose vessel had run aground near Pike Island, north of Kilgarvan Quay on the Tipperary shore. Volunteer crew with…
The 19 metre fishing vessel experienced difficulty off the Bull Rock on the Beara peninsula in West Cork
Lifeboat crew at Castletownbere RNLI were launched early this morning just after 03.30 a.m. to assist a 19-metre fishing vessel which experienced difficulties off the Bull Rock off the Beara peninsula in West Cork. The alarm was raised when the…
Carrybridge RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat Douglas Euan and Kay Richards and rescue water craft
Carrybridge RNLI is looking for new volunteer crew members to join its search and rescue service on Lough Erne. The station, on the River Erne between the upper and lower loughs, is now calling on potential recruits to come forward…
Bundoran RNLI’s volunteer crew make their way to the scene
Four people have been rescued from an island off the Sligo coast after their vessel washed up on rocks. Bundoran RNLI’s volunteer crew launched to the incident at Inishmurray Island yesterday afternoon (Sunday 3 November) along with the Irish Coast…
Members of Lagan Search & Rescue
Belfast used to turn its back on the River Lagan. Not anymore writes Betty Armstrong. Within the city much development, both commercial and urban, has taken place around the river – a weir, Belfast Harbour Marina, riverside walks, a new…
Emergency Services including the Irish Coastguard were praised by the Galway West Coroner
A Galway coroner has paid tribute to a French-Canadian who tried to save the life of a Swiss woman when the caravan she was staying in at a Connemara campsite was swept into the sea during Storm Ali writes Lorna Siggins…
Howth Coast Guard’s new rescue ROV
Howth Coast Guard has successfully deployed its new remote operated vehicle (ROV) for the first time in a missing person exercise last night (Wednesday 30 October). After several weeks of training, the coastguard team set out to locate a potential…
A fishing vessel in Howth Harbour
In response to Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) recommendations, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) has issued a Marine Notice to remind masters, owners, users, charterers, skippers and crew of fishing vessels of previous safety advice and requirements.…
The Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 was involved in the multi-agency operation to recover Kenny Andrews from Lower Lough Erne in September 2018
Patrick McGurgan, a Northern Ireland coroner, has recently called for the introduction of a law to make the wearing of lifejackets compulsory in Northern Ireland, writes Betty Armstrong. Mr McGurgan had heard two inquests following separate drowning deaths on inland…
Deployments and recovery will be conducted by the AMS Retriever
Metocean devices will be deployed in the Irish Sea off the Wicklow coast in late October/early November, subject to weather conditions, to facilitate the development of the Arklow Bank Wind Park. Five separate devices are being deployed which will include…

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.