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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Weever fish
As we approach the Bank Holiday Weekend, CEO of Irish Water Safety John Leech reminds swimmers, surfers and all beach users of the little sandy coloured fish that lives in the sea on our beaches. It spends most of the…
The Coast Guard have rescued a lone sailor off Wexford. See video below
#Coastguard - The Irish Coast Guard welcomed the successful rescue last night (Tuesday 26 July) of a lone yachtsman found on his overturned yacht 20 miles off the Co Wexford coast. The yachtsman triggered his personal locator beacon (PLB) around…
Youghal RNLI's inshore lifeboat
#RNLI - Youghal RNLI in East Cork was requested to launch twice this past Sunday (24 July) to separate reports of a boat with engine trouble and a missing person. The volunteer lifeboat crew were first called upon to launch…
Portrush RNLI assist with the rescue of a man who fell on rocks near Dunluce Castle
#RNLI - It was another busy day for North Coast lifeboat volunteer crews as both Portrush RNLI lifeboats were launched for the second time in 24 hours yesterday evening (Sunday 24 July). The all-weather and inshore lifeboats were launched at 5.30pm…
Skerries RNLI recover their Atlantic 85 lifeboat after the callout
#RNLI - Skerries RNLI volunteers launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat on Saturday afternoon (23 July) after Dublin Coast Guard received a call from a concerned member of public about a swimmer in difficulty. The lifeboat launched shortly after 12.30pm…
Liscannor Bay
#Rescue - BreakingNews.ie reports on the rescue of a woman whose kayak capsized in Liscannor Bay this morning (Sunday 24 July). The woman – one of a group of four – was unable to get back into her kayak, prompting…
Bangor RNLI towing the broken down motorboat to Carrickfergus
#RNLI - At 7:30am yesterday morning (Saturday 23 July), Bangor RNLI was requested by HM Coastguard to attend a boat off Carrickfergus in Belfast Lough, following the firing of a red distress flare. On arrival at the scene, the volunteer…
Traught beach at Kinvara, Co Galway
#Rescue - A father and son were rescued on Thursday (21 July) by Kinvara beach lifeguards after being washed overboard from their kayak. Lifeguards Mark Buckley and Niall Hanley contacted the Irish Coast Guard shortly after 3pm when they became…
Rosslare RNLI lifeboat
While out on a weekly lifeboat exercise Rosslare RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were called out by the Coast Guard to two separate incidents. The first incident, which occurred close to the Burrow point at Rosslare Strand, involved a small dog…
Lladudno was the scene of an intensive SAR operation last night
UK Coastguard launched an air and sea search after a Mayday call was heard late on Friday night near Llandudno in North Wales. Holyhead Coastguard heard a spoken radio Mayday call at 10.45pm on Friday and coordinated a search of…
The Cliffs of Moher looking towards O'Brien's Tower
#CliffsofMoher - BreakingNews.ie reports that two tourists are recovering after separate falling incidents at the Cliffs of Moher yesterday (Thursday 21 July).  An Italian woman suffered a serious leg injury on the coastal cliff trail around 10am, while an Australian…
Skerries RNLI rescuing four men after their speedboat drifted onto rocks at Colt Island
#RNLI - Skerries RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Thursday 21 July) after Dublin Coast Guard received a call from a vessel that had suffered engine failure near the islands off the North Co Dublin coastal town. The lifeboat launched shortly after…
R115 the Shannon based Coast Guard helicopter
A father and son were rescued today, having being washed overboard from their kayak, thanks to the vigilance of Beach Lifeguards based at Tracht / Kinvarra. Lifeguards Mark Buckley and Niall Hanley contacted the Coast Guard shortly after 3pm this…
Bangor Lifeboat Rescues Boys Trapped On Rocks
#RNLI - It was just a routine exercise for Bangor RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew on Sunday night (17 July) until they got the call to rescue two young boys who were cut off by a rising tide while fishing at…
Red Bay RNLI prepares to tow the 40ft yacht to Cushendall
#RNLI - Red Bay RNLI was paged at 6am this morning (Wednesday 20 July) to go to the aid of a 40ft yacht, with two people on board, after the vessel suffered engine failure and was unable to move. The…
Wicklow RNLI's all-weather and inshore lifeboats at sea
#RNLI - Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats launched on Monday afternoon (Monday 18 July) after the Irish Coast Guard received a report of a capsized boat drifting off Greystones. The inshore lifeboat was first on scene and located the upturned Laser yacht,…

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.