Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Bundoran RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
#Rescue - Bundoran RNLI is reminding anyone planning a trip to the coast this summer to be mindful of the dangers of rip currents that can quickly sweep you out to sea. The advice comes as Bundoran’s volunteer lifeboat crew…
Baltimore RNLI's inshore lifeboat
#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI assisted two sailors yesterday afternoon (Friday 14 July) after their motorboat broke down off the coast of West Cork. The volunteer crew was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 2.25pm following a report from the…
Rescue 116 pictured over Wicklow in August 2015
#Rescue116 - Favourable conditions this weekend will aid a fresh search of the waters around Black Rock for the two Irish Coast Guard personnel still missing after the Rescue 116 tragedy four months ago. Winch operator Paul Ormsby and winchman…
Data on the island off Co Mayo was missing from Rescue 116’s Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System, or EGPWS
#Rescue116 - A new report reveals that the absence of data on Black Rock from Rescue 116’s onboard warning system was flagged with the Irish Coast Guard’s helicopter operators years before the fatal crash earlier this year. Captains Dara Fitzpatrick…
Union Hall RNLI attaches a towline to the stricken yacht
#RNLI - Union Hall RNLI went to the aid of a yacht with two people onboard yesterday evening (Thursday 13 July) after the vessel got into difficulty half a mile east of Castlehaven Harbour in West Cork.The volunteer lifeboat crew…
Red Bay’s inshore lifeboat attending the scene at Fair Head on the North Antrim coast
#RNLI - Red Bay RNLI rescued a woman who fell while climbing Fair Head in Co Antrim yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 12 July). The volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat around 2pm following a request from Belfast Coastguard to go to…
Lough Ree RNLI’s inshore lifeboat The Eric Rowse
#RNLI - Lough Ree RNLI assisted 30 people aboard seven vessels during an exceptionally busy few days for the volunteers last week. The crew of inshore lifeboat The Eric Rowse had an early start last on Sunday 2 July when…
Baltimore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat
#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew has responded to three callouts over the last four days. The first of the three was a medical evacuation from Cape Clear on Friday (7 July). A woman from the island was suffering…
Teelin Pier in County Donegal
The Coast Guard has recovered the bodies of two men from the water in Co Donegal yesterday. One man was in his 50s and the other man was in his 40s. The incident occurred off Malinbeg, Glencolmcille, Co Donegal. Whilst on…
Larne RNLI's all-weather lifeboat
#RNLI - Larne RNLI responded to two consecutive calls for help off the Antrim coast yesterday afternoon (Saturday 8 July). The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their all-weather and inshore lifeboats at 2.17pm after Belfast Coastguard reported that…
Fethard Inshore lifeboat
Fethard RNLI launched its inshore lifeboat yesterday evening (Thursday 6 July) to conduct a search after a member of the public reported seeing a kayak floating in the sea off Duncannon Beach in County Wexford. The volunteer crew was requested…
Skerries RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
#RNLI - Skerries RNLI launched on Wednesday afternoon (5 July) after the coastguard received a report from lifeguards on Rush beach of swimmers in difficulty some 500 metres off shore and at risk of being pulled out to sea.  The…
Larne RNLI's all-weather lifeboat
#RNLI - Larne RNLI rescued two men yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 5 July) after their yacht got into difficulty off the Antrim coast. The all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch at 1.46pm following a report from Belfast Coastguard that a 30ft…
Rosslare RNLI lifeboat
Rosslare Harbour RNLI has rescued three men this afternoon after their motorboat encountered mechanical problems and broke down off the Wexford coast. The volunteer crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 3pm following a report from the Irish…
Rosslare Harbour RNLI went to the aid of a motorsailor aground on the Blackwater Bank
Rosslare Harbour RNLI rescued three men yesterday evening (Monday 3 July) after their boat ran aground. The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at approximately 4.30pm following a report from the Irish Coast Guard that a…
Howth RNLI was called out to rescue dinghy sailors
Howth RNLI launched the inshore lifeboat Saturday 1st July to reports of 2 dinghy sailors finding it difficult to return to Portmarnock beach in heavy offshore winds. The inshore lifeboat was tasked at 7.25pm to the scene just off Portmarnock…

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.