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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
The Irish Coast Guard's Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter
#Medevac - The Irish Coast Guard launched to separate medevacs for fishermen who sustained injuries off the Cork and Clare coasts this weekend, as BreakingNews.ie reports. In Cork yesterday (Sunday 2 April), the Shannon-based coastguard helicopter Rescue 115 airlifted a…
Coast guard Rescue Helicopter R116
The Chief Inspector of Air Accidents, Mr. Jurgen Whyte, in conjunction with the appointed Investigator-in-Charge, Mr. Paul Farrell, say there were 'no mechanical anomalies' identified during the initial analysis of data retrieved from the Coastguard Helicopter that crashed off the…
Drinking & Boating? Think Again - Alcohol Persists As ‘Significant Factor’ In Marine Incidents Says DTTAS
#Alcohol - Alcohol consumption “continues to be a significant factor” in marine incidents involving recreational craft. That’s according to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS), whose latest Marine Notice highlights the risks to the public associated with drink…
Funeral Of Capt Mark Duffy Takes Place In Louth As Salvage Team Drafted To Rescue 116 Wreck Site
#Coastguard - The funeral of Irish Coast Guard Captain Mark Duffy took place in Blackrock, Co Louth yesterday (Thursday 30 March), as The Irish Times reports. President Michael D Higgins was among those in attendance to pay respects to the…
Divers are searching the wreck of Rescue 116 off the eastern side of Black Rock
#Rescue116 - Divers are working at the Rescue 116 wreck site to recover the body of one of three crewmen missing since the Irish Coast Guard helicopter went down off the North Mayo coast 11 days ago, as The Irish…
Black Box Recovered From Rescue 116 Wreck Site
#Rescue116 - Search teams have successfully recovered Rescue 116’s flight recorder, or ‘black box’, from the sea bed off Black Rock on the North Mayo coast. The flight recorder is now in the custody of the Air Accident Investigation Unit…
The Marine Institute's Celtic Voyager has been assisting in the search for the wreckage of RII6
The AAIU in consultation with An Garda Síochána, the Navy, the Coast Guard, the GSI and the Marine Institute wish to advise that following initial Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) operations the wreckage of R116 has been positively located on the…
AAIU Statement on Investigation into the Loss of R116
The AAIU wishes to extend its sincere sympathies to the families and friends of the crew of R116. The Chief Inspector of Air Accidents, Mr. Jurgen Whyte, in consultation with the appointed Investigator-in-Charge, Mr. Paul Farrell, wishes to make the…
Coastguard Helicopter R116
Our maritime environment gives so much to so many people. Whether it be a source of living for coastal communities, essential transport services for an island nation or the pleasure of watersports, the waters of Ireland provide workspaces and playgrounds…
The Sligo Bay lifeboat was involved in this morning's dive boat rescue
#Rescue - The Irish Times reports on the rescue of eight divers off the Sligo coast after a boat capsized this morning (Sunday 19 March). Sligo Bay RNLI were tasked to the scene off Aughris Pier in Sligo town after…
Wreckage believed to be from the downed coastguard helicopter has been found on Black Rock, close to where its black box has been detected
#Rescue116 - The Irish Lights vessel Granuaile is in Galway preparing to join the search for the missing crew of Rescue 116, according to Galway Bay FM. The multifunctional vessel, built to operate in difficult sea conditions, is being stocked…
Eamonn Terry with the Shamrock Bowl selected by An Taoiseach for the White House 2017
Donald Trump got his Shamrock from Taoiseach Enda Kenny through the work of a lifeboatman from Helvick Head writes Tom MacSweeney. Eamonn Terry is owner of the crystal craft business Criostal na Rinne in the Waterford Gaeltacht of An Rinn…
Irish Coastguard helicopters have become the potent symbol of a civilised society in an island setting
While it may be a matter of discussion as to whether or not Ireland is truly a maritime nation, there is no doubting the fact that we are an aviational people to a remarkable degree. We’ve inherited a deeply-felt distrust…
Dara Fitzpatrick as pictured in Afloat in June 1994 - then a 22-year-old helicopter co-pilot with four years of flying experience already under her belt
#Rescue116 - Tributes have poured in for Dara Fitzpatrick, the senior pilot who lost her life in yesterday’s Irish Coast Guard helicopter incident off Blacksod in Co Mayo. Speaking to RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland earlier, sister Niamh Fitzpatrick, praised…
A major search operation has been ongoing since the early hours for Rescue 116 and its crew off Blacksod in Co Mayo
#Rescue116 - One person has been taken from the scene in the search for an Irish Coast Guard helicopter and crew that went missing off Mayo in the early hours of this morning, according to the Galway Advertiser. Update 2.55pm: The…
A major sea search is underway off the Co Mayo coast, near Blacksod for a Coast Guard Helicopter
A major sea search is ongoing off the county Mayo coast approximately six miles west of Blacksod this morning. At approximately 1am this morning contact was lost with a Coast Guard SAR Helicopter off the West Coast of Ireland during a…

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.