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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Report on Cargoship Grounding at the Boyne Bar
#MCIB REPORT– A report investigating the grounding of the Arklow Raider (2007/2,999grt) at the mouth of the River Boyne in 2010, was published yesterday by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB). The 89m general cargoship managed by Arklow Shipping Ltd…
Regulation Recommended for Marine Activity Centres After Clogherhead Report
#MCIB - The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has recommended that the Government review standards for activity centres involved in marine sports, following its report into an incident off Co Louth in May 2011. Seven sixth-class pupils from St Brigid's…
Busy Week For Howth Coast Guard With Two Separate Cliff Rescues
#COASTGUARD - Last week saw two rapid responses by volunteers with the Howth Coast Guard in separate incidents on the peninsula. On Saturday 22 September a walker on the Howth Head cliff path who suffered an ankle injury was evacuated…
Irish Naval Architect Pioneers New Lifeboat 50% Faster than the Rest
#rnli – A young Irishman has played a significant role in developing the RNLI's most advanced class of lifeboat - the Shannon class.  Named after the River Shannon and almost 50% faster than the lifeboats it will replace - the…
More On Power Boat Fireball Off West Cork
#BOAT FIRE - The Irish Independent has more on the incident in which a motor cruiser caught fire off West Cork at the weekend, as previously reported on Afloat.ie. Denis Ryan, a car dealer from Inishannon in Co Cork, says…
Marine Notice: Annual Servicing of Lifesaving Equipment
#MARINE NOTICE - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) reminds vessel owners and all seafarers of the requirement to service their lifejackets, liferafts and other safety equipment. All items that form part of…
Diver Dies After Saltee Islands Incident
#RESCUE - RTÉ News reports that a man has died following a diving accident off the Saltee Islands at the weekend. The 25-year-old is believed to have rapidly ascended from 25 metres below the surface while on a dive with…
Irish Water Safety Warns of Work Related Drownings
Since the start of 2007, there have been 22 work-related fatalities where the victim drowned according to Irish Water Safety. The Breakdown by sector (excluding those under current investigation): 2 in Agriculture 17 in Fishing 1 in Quarrying 1 in…
New Tamar Lifeboat Named in Baltimore
#rnli – Baltimore RNLI have officially named the new €3m Tamar class lifeboat Alan Massey at a harbour ceremony yesterday. The lifeboat was substantially funded by a legacy from Ms Dorothy May Massey in honour of her late brother Alan. …
Largest Ever NI Maritime Exercise Takes Place on Belfast Lough
#coastguard – Exercise Diamond, the largest maritime exercise ever held in Northern Ireland, has taken place today within Belfast Lough. The exercise has tested the response by those involved in maritime search, rescue and recovery to a major maritime incident.…
Fisherman Airlifted to Galway Hospital
#RESCUE - The Irish Examiner reports that a man has been airlifted to hospital after taking ill on a fishing vessel off Galway yesterday Friday 21 September. The man reportedly experienced chest pains on board the fishing boat off the…
Belfast Lough Hosts Major Maritime Exercise This Weekend
#LIFEBOATS - The Larne Times reports that Larne RNLI will be involved in a major maritime exercise in Belfast Lough this Sunday 23 September. As many as 365 people will take part in 'Exercise Diamond', which involves vessels from the…
Baltimore Lifeboat to be Named in West Cork Ceremony
#rnli – A sister's legacy in memory of her beloved brother will be honoured tomorrow (Saturday 22 September 2012) in West Cork when Baltimore RNLI hold the official naming ceremony and service of dedication for their new Tamar class lifeboat…
Mayo Mountain Rescue Breaks Record for Call-Outs on Croagh Patrick
#COASTGUARD - Mayo's mountain rescue unit has reported its busiest ever period with an "unprecedented" 14 call-outs in just six weeks, according to The Irish Times. Irish Coast Guard personnel assisted Mayo Mountain Rescue on four of the total, helping…
Enniskillen is Busiest Irish Lifeboat Station
#rnli – This summer, RNLI lifeboats in Ireland launched 377 times, a slight drop on last year's total of 389. The charity's volunteer crewmembers were involved in many different types of callouts to a range of casualties. Many of the…
Rescue Crews in Familiarisation Exercise with New Sikorsky S-92
#sikorsky – Crew from Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Station were one of the rescue services invited on a familiarisation exercise of the new Sikorsky S-92, with four crew from the Irish Coast Guard Search & Rescue Helicopter team, based at…

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.