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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat Assists Two On 40ft Yacht In Difficulty
#RNLI - Rosslare Harbour RNLI assisted two crew members on board a 40ft yacht which got into difficulty on Sunday night (10 May). The alarm was raised by a member of the public at approximately 8pm who saw a boat…
Kilkeel Lifeboat Aids Stricken Yacht Off Carlingford Lough
#RNLI - Kilkeel RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew Ernest McKee (helm), William Charleton, Suzanne McCullough and Gerry Smyth responded to a call at 8pm last night (Sunday 10 May) to go to the aid of the 25ft yacht Sundancer in difficulty…
Enniskillen Lifeboat Helps Four On Grounded Powerboat
#RNLI - The volunteer crew from Enniskillen RNLI lifeboat station launched their inshore lifeboat from Carrybridge at 9pm last night (Wednesday 6 May) to go to the assistance of a 32-foot sports cruiser. The powerboat, with four adults on board,…
Galway Lifeboat Rescues Woman Swept Out To Sea
#RNLI - A woman was recovering in hospital in Galway last night (Wednesday 6 May) after being rescued by Galway RNLI lifeboat. The alarm was raised by members of the public who spotted the woman in the River Corrib being…
Seven Kayakers Rescued After Bristol Channel Ordeal
#Rescue - Just days after a kayaker was rescued from the Bristol Channel comes footage of another rescue on the opposite side of that same body of water – this time of seven people kayaking off the Exmoor coast. According to the…
Families Risk Lives In Howth As Waves Break Over Harbour Wall
#WaterSafety - Families were spotted risking their lives on Howth's exposed harbour walls in recent stormy weather conditions. TheJournal.ie reports with photos of some parents with children as young as toddler age frolicking under the waves as they crashed over…
Giant Yellow Welly Kicks Off RNLI’s Mayday Campaign In Dublin
#RNLI - An eight-foot-tall yellow welly at the top of Grafton Street in Dublin was unveiled yesterday (Friday 1 May) to mark the launch of the RNLI's Mayday fundraiser. The larger-than-life Wellington boot – which represents the yellow wellies worn…
Kayaker Rescued From Bristol Channel
#Rescue - A man was rescued from the water in the Bristol Channel off the Vale of Glamorgan this afternoon (Friday 1 May) after his kayak capsized and sank. Milford Haven Coastguard Operations Centre received multiple emergency calls at 12:26pm…
New Website For Schools Promotes 'Water Safety Fun'
#WaterSafety - Irish Water Safety (IWS) has launched its new water safety website for primary school teachers, pupils and parents. The site for IWS' Primary Aquatic Water Safety programme, or PAWS, combines clear, simple water safety messages with material for…
Portaferry Lifeboat Joins Multi-Agency Search For Missing Woman
#RNLI - Portaferry RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew were called out yesterday (Wednesday 29 April) to help in the search for a woman reported missing to police. The RNLI lifeboat, an Inshore Atlantic 85, was launched at 5.05pm and the volunteer…
Coastguard Airlifts Injured Fisherman In Atlantic Drama
#Coastguard - Waterford's Rescue 117 helicopter evacuated a fisherman with a crush injury to his leg from a trawler some 180km off the Irish coast yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 29 April). The Irish Independent has dramatic video of the Irish Coast…
Six Junior Sailors Rescued In Dun Laoghaire Drama
#Rescue - Independent.ie reports on the dramatic rescue of six young sailing trainees after their dinghy overturned in a gust in Dun Laoghaire harbour yesterday afternoon (Sunday 26 April). One of Dun Laoghaire RNLI's lifeboats spotted the children in trouble…
RNLI's Final Appeal for Irish Yacht Sailors to Help with Research
#lifeboat – The RNLI is appealing for Irish yacht sailors who have not yet taken part in the charity's new research project, which is exploring attitudes towards risk and safety, and the various ways in which yacht sailors participate in…
Newcastle RNLI All Weather Lifeboat Launches to Stranded Speedboat
#lifeboat – Just 24 hours after Newcastle RNLI named their new inshore lifeboat, the volunteer crew launched their all weather lifeboat to go the aid of a stranded speedboat. The volunteer lifeboat crew were called out yesterday (Sunday 26 April)…
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…

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.