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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Daughter Who Lost Father at Sea at Six Weeks Old Lends Support to RNLI's Mayday Campaign
#rnli – A Donegal woman who lost her father in a fishing tragedy when she was just six weeks old is lending her support to Mayday, the RNLI's national fundraising campaign which runs from 1-4 May. Almost 28 years on…
Howth RNLI Lifeboat Tow 32ft–Sailing Vessel to Safety
#lifeboat – Howth RNLI all weather lifeboat launched at 4.00pm this evening to reports of a 32ft–sailing vessel with engine problems in the vicinity of the Baily lighthouse. The casualty vessel was located and towed to the safety of Howth…
Coast-To-Coast Cycle To Raise Funds For Achill Island Lifeboat
#RNLI - A coast-to-coast cycle starting in England and finishing in Co Mayo next month will raise funds for Achill Island RNLI. Jane McNeela and Ursula Murray from Preston will undertake the Coast to Coast Bicycle Ride as part of…
Galway Lifeboat Assists Teenager Stranded By Rising Tide
#RNLI - Clifden RNLI certainly had a busy weekend, but more recently in Galway a 19-year-old man was rescued from an island off Silver Strand yesterday evening (Wednesday 22 April) after he was stranded by the rising tide. A kayaker…
Three Callouts In Four Days For Clifden Lifeboats
#RNLI - Volunteer crew members at Clifden RNLI in Co Galway responded to three callouts in four days at the weekend. The busy period from Friday 17 to Monday 20 April involved the crew responding to three incidents including a…
Skerries Lifeboat Saves Man From Drowning
#RNLI - Skerries RNLI saved a man from drowning yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 22 April) as they responded to an emergency call on their pagers. Volunteer crew member Stephen Crowley was giving one of his fellow volunteers, helm David Knight, a lift…
Busy Sunday Night For Larne Lifeboats
#RNLI - The volunteer lifeboat crew with Larne RNLI had a busy Sunday evening (19 April) when both the all-weather and inshore lifeboats were tasked to two separate incidents within minutes of each other. The inshore lifeboat was launched to…
Howth RNLI Lifeboat Rescue Dog on Sandbank From Rising Tide
#rnli – Howth RNLI inshore lifeboat launched at 9.55pm yesterday evening to reports of a man and his dog in difficulty after being cut off by the rising tide on a sandbank opposite Burrow Beach in Sutton. The man swam…
Kilrush RNLI Lifeboat In Multi-Agency Search Operation
#lifeboat – Lifeboat crew launched early this morning to take part in a multi agency search and rescue operation involving Kilrush and Fenit RNLI, Coast Guard rescue teams from Kilkee and Doolin. At 3.29am Shannon Coast guard tasked Kilrush RNLI…
Maritime Safety Strategy – What Does It Mean for Leisure Sailors?
#safetyatsea – Last Thursday (April 16) the Department of Transport published its Maritime Safety Strategy, resulting from the "Sea Change" consultation last year. By chance this coincided exactly with our publication of the ICC's independent analysis of the Marine Casualty…
Lough Derg Lifeboat Takes Boat & Jet Ski In Tow
#rnli – While out on exercise last night, Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat came to the assistance of five people whose boat had suffered engine failure, at the south western end of Lough Derg. At 8.30pm the Lifeboat observed a boat…
New Maritime Safety Strategy Aims to Reduce Number of Fatalities at Sea
#maritimesafety – The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, TD, today launched a new Maritime Safety Strategy 2015 – 2019, the theme of which is 'Make Time for Maritime Safety.'  The new Strategy was developed following a consultation…
Coastguard Helicopter Rescues Three After Fishing Boat Sinks
#rnli – Wickow RNLI lifeboat launched this afternoon to a stricken fishing boat that sank off the east coast. Latest news reports from the area say three fishermen were rescued by Coastguard helicopter from a liferaft, 12km off the coast…
'Duck Race' For Helvick Head RNLI Hailed A Success
#RNLI - The Duck Race in aid of the Helvick Head RNLI lifeboat station on Saturday 11 April 11th was a "spectacular success", according to race co-ordinator RoseAnn Foley. As part of the Cois Cé celebrations during West Waterford Festival…
Bundoran Lifeboat Rescues Teen After Jet Ski Capsize
#RNLI - Bundoran RNLI rescued a teenager who fell from a capsized jet ski on Thursday afternoon (9 April). The volunteer crew was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by Malin Head Coast Guard at 1.24pm following a report that…
Arranmore Lifeboat Saves Two After Fishing Boat Capsizes Off Donegal
#RNLI - Arranmore RNLI saved two fishermen on Wednesday afternoon (8 April) after their 10m boat capsized off the Donegal coast. A member of the public who was watching the fishing vessel from the shoreline raised the alarm at 2.50pm…

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.