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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
The crew of Courtmacsherry RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat
#RNLI - Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was called out at 2.45pm yesterday afternoon (Sunday 2 October) as three divers and their support boat sought help as their vessel got into difficulties near Black Head off Kinsale. The lifeboat was quickly…
Seymour Cresswell names the new lifeboat at a ceremony in Howth yesterday
Lifeboat crew, station management, fundraisers and supporters of Howth RNLI were joined by members of the public yesterday (Sunday 2 October) to officially name the North Dublin lifeboat station’s newest lifeboat Aideen Cresswell, in memory of the incredible woman who…
Crosshaven RNLI ILB assisted a casualty from a RIB last night at Cork City marina
Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat in Cork Harbour was requested to launch yesterday evening at 8.49pm after a report of a 9m RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with two people on board hit a navigation Buoy near Tivoli in Cork City. Reports also…
Celebrity chef Clodagh McKenna serves up a fish supper for hungry Howth RNLI volunteers
#RNLI - Celebrated chef, food writer and television personality Clodagh McKenna recently visited Howth Lifeboat Station, where she treated the volunteer crew to a delicious seafood supper. McKenna’s visit marks the countdown to the RNLI’s upcoming foodie fundraiser Fish Supper,…
Fethard RNLI's D-class inshore lifeboat
#RNLI - Fethard RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Thursday 29 September) to assist a man whose pleasure craft broke down off the Wexford coast. The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 4.07pm following a report that…
Ballycotton's inshore lifeboat shepherds the young dolphin into deeper waters
#RNLI - Ballycotton RNLI launched around 1pm yesterday afternoon (Thursday 29 September) to aid a dolphin stranded in shallow water on Silver Strand beach near the East Cork village. A member of the public who was on scene had tried…
The lone kayaker spotted by a concerned onlooker off Howth on Wednesday morning 28 September
#Rescue - Howth’s coastguard and lifeboat teams launched to the rescue of a lone kayaker off the North Dublin headland yesterday morning (Wednesday 28 September). After a concerned onlooker called 999 when spotting that the kayaker was on the water…
A climber needed rescuing after becoming cragfast whilst climbing the cliff. Scroll down for video.
Two Coastguard Rescue Teams carried out a difficult and complex rescue in a Force 9 gale, after a climber became cragfast on cliffs at Fairhead, near Ballycastle, Northern Ireland. At about 11.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 28 September) the UK Coastguard received…
The initial alarm was raised by a member of the public reporting two kayakers in trouble with one kayaker in the water
Larne RNLI has rescued two kayakers who got into difficulty off the County Antrim coast yesterday evening (Tuesday 27 September). The volunteer lifeboat crew responded to a launch request from Belfast Coastguard at approximately 6.30pm following reports of two kayakers…
Clifden RNLI on exercise
#RNLI - An island medical evacuation was carried out yesterday (Monday 26 September) by the volunteer crew of Clifden RNLI on the Mersey class all-weather lifeboat Fisherman's Friend. In calm seagoing conditions, the lifeboat was launched at 1.15pm to attend…
L-R: Mark Wynter, Commodore, Island Sailing Club & owner of Alchemist, with the 2016 Seamanship Award winner Jeff Warboys and Keith Lovett from Race Partner Haven Knox-Johnston/MS Amlin
Sacrificing his own race to go to the aid of another stricken competitor in the 2016 Round the Island Race has resulted in Jeff Warboys, skipper of a Sigma 33 Workout, being awarded the 2016 Round the Island Race Seamanship…
A photo taken from the Navy vessel LE Niamh of the trawler rescue by Courtmacsherry lifeboat 20 –miles off Seven Heads last night
The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat has arrived in Union Hall with the stricken 60–ft fishing boat that had got into difficulties some seven hours earlier. The crew reported via a Mayday call at 5.46 pm last evening that they…
M/V Northern Wind is currently on a seabed mapping operation off the East Coast
#MarineNotice - All vessels on the East Coast, particularly those engaged in fishing, are requested to give a wide berth to a survey vessel carrying out seabed mapping operations on behalf of Clinton Marine Survey AB. M/V Northern Wind (Callsign…
The Wicklow RNLI inshore lifeboat launches to assist the broken-down personal water craft
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's inshore lifeboat launched shortly after 5pm yesterday evening (Sunday 25 September) to assist a person on a broken-down personal water craft. The man had set off from Wicklow Harbour and was about a mile offshore when…
Howth inshore lifeboat – The inflatable rescue craft is highly manoeuvrable and specifically suited to surf, shallow water and confined locations
Members of Howth RNLI lifeboat will gather at the lifeboat station this Sunday (2 October 2016) to name their new inshore lifeboat Aideen Cresswell in memory of the incredible woman who funded it. Aideen Cresswell (nee Stokes) was born in…
Have a cuppa with Larne RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew on Friday 30 September
#RNLI - Larne RNLI's volunteer crew are throwing open the doors of their lifeboat station this coming Friday 30 September as they host a coffee morning to raise funds for Macmillan, the cancer support charity. Doors open at 10am 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.