Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Red Bay lifeboat volunteers searching off the Antrim coast on Sunday 18 December
#RNLI - Volunteers from Red Bay RNLI in Co Antrim joined in the ongoing search for a missing woman yesterday (Sunday 18 December). The all-weather lifeboat, under coxswain Paddy McLaughlin and with six crew members onboard, launched at 11.30am and…
Castletownbere RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Annette Hutton
#RNLI - Castletownbere RNLI was requested to go to the aid of a 36m vessel with mechanical difficulties north of the Bull Rock off the coast of West Cork on Friday evening (16 December). The lifeboat, under the command of…
Coastguard Volunteers Want Safeguards From Government
#Coastguard - Coastguard volunteers are calling for the service to be designated as a ‘standalone primary response agency’, as the Irish Examiner reports. A four-person delegation representing some 1,000 volunteers with the Irish Coast Guard pleaded their case with front…
Arranmore RNLI
Arranmore RNLI rescued four fishermen this morning after their 70ft boat got into difficulty off the Donegal coast. The crew of the vessel which was travelling from Greencastle to Killybegs, raised the alarm before 7am after the boat developed steering…
The remains of Pegasus following salvage from Galway Bay off Rinville
#MCIB - A loose gas hose is the most likely cause of an explosion that sank a restored classic yacht in Galway Bay earlier this year, according to the official investigation into the incident. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, an…
Skerries RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson
#RNLI - Skerries RNLI volunteers launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson for the second time in two days on Tuesday evening (29 November 29) after Dublin Coast Guard received reports from a fishing vessel of a boat on…
Union Chandlery Host RNLI Pop–Up Shop This Saturday
This Saturday, Union Chandlery in Cork city will be hosting an RNLI pop–up shop where 100% of the proceeds will be going directly to the RNLI. These funds are vital for keeping RNLI boats on the water and providing the…
The boat pinned to trees in the Shannon hours after the tragic incident on 4 February 2016
#MCIB - The dangers of boating while under the influence have been highlighted in the official report into an incident on the Shannon near Limerick city earlier this year. One man died and three others were hospitalised after their boat…
Coast Guard Helicopter in Long Range Evacuation
The Shannon based Coast Guard helicopter has completed the evacuation of a crewman from an Irish fishing vessel located 160 miles West of Loop Head, Co Clare. The injured man has been taken on-board the Coast Guard helicopter, R115 and…
The recent gala evening of music in aid of Fethard RNLI
#RNLI - Fethard RNLI was presented with a cheque for €1,140 following a Gala Evening of Music & Song towards the charity’s special appeal in aid of a new inshore lifeboat, which is due on service at the end 2017.…
The Arranmore lifeboat crew is a community affair
#RNLI - Jimmy Early has taken over as coxswain of the Arranmore RNLI all-weather lifeboat following 41 years of service. Early, who is just weeks into the job, is currently furthering his training at the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset.…
Castletownbere RNLI guided the local coastguard team to the casualty trapped on a ledge in the Dursey Sound
#RNLI - Castletownbere RNLI’s lifeboat was tasked just before noon yesterday (Sunday 13 November) to go to the aid of a man trapped a ledge on the shore in the Dursey Sound. The lifeboat, under the command of second coxswain…
Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Housing, Planning & Local Government with 'Seiko Just In Time Award' recipients Sergeant Kieran O Regan, Gardai Claire Murphy, Mark Holden, Kieran Hayes (Tipperary) and Martin O'Sullivan, Chairman of Irish Water Safety at the annual Irish Water Safety Awards held at Dublin Castle.
Thirty-two lives were saved from drowning through the brave actions of forty-seven rescuers who will receive recognition at Irish Water Safety's National Annual Awards Ceremony at the Print Works Conference Centre, Dublin Castle on Tuesday 8th November, from 3pm to…
Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat
#RNLI - RNLI lifeboats from Wicklow and Courtmacsherry have responded to two separate calls from fishing boats in difficulty around the Irish coast in recent days. A trawler with three fishermen onboard was towed to safety by Wicklow RNLI yesterday…
Derval O’Rourke joined RNLI volunteers at the launch of 2016’s Reindeer Runs
#RNLI - The RNLI’s festive Reindeer Runs are back in three locations in Cork and Dublin. And the charity that saves lives at sea is encouraging families to come out, get involved and get moving for a great cause. Renowned…
Skerries lifeboat crew rescues two swimmers from the water off Colt Island on Hallowe'en afternoon
#RNLI - Skerries RNLI responded yesterday afternoon (31 October) to reports of swimmers in difficulty to the south of Colt Island off the north Co Dublin town. Shortly after 12 noon, a member of the local fishing fleet alerted Dublin…

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.