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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Lifejacket Saves Boy in Lough Ramor
A lifejacket was key to saving a youg boy's life when he was thrown from his boat in Lough Ramor on Sunday afternoon. The 14-year-old was the sole occupant of a RIB on the Co Cavan lough, and had failed…
Wicklow Lifeboat Crew Race from Christening to Rescue
Just as the joint christening ceremony of Wicklow RNLI Coxswain Nick Keoghs daughter Gracie and 3rd Coxswain David O Leary's daughter Megan at St Patricks Church was just coming to an end at lunchtime today (Sunday 20th March) several lifeboat…
Minister's Praise of Bangor Coastguard 'Rings Hollow'
UK Shipping Minister Mike Penning's praise of staff at Northern Ireland's only coastguard station has been described as 'hollow' by a DUP MLA. Penning had described his meeting with staff at the Bangor coastguard centre, which is threatened with closure…
Lough Derg Lifeboat Rescue Yacht Aground
Lough Derg Lifeboat assisted a person on board a 26ft–yacht after it grounded on a sand back north of Kilgarvin on Lough Derg On Thursday evening. Lough RNLI Derg lifeboat Toshiba Wave Warrior towed a 26ft yacht to safety after…
Howth Coastguard and Lifeboat Rescue Teenager
In a joint operation, Howth Coast Guard and Howth lifeboat rescued a teenage girl who collapsed on Howth Head today at approx 6pm (March 17th). Scroll down for Video. The teenager had walked down a 100 foot steep cliff path…
Penning Says Meeting with Bangor Coastguard Staff Clears Air
UK Shipping Minister Mike Penning described his meeting with Bangor coastguard staff last week as "a breath of fresh air", BBC News reports. Last Wednesday Penning met staff at Northern Ireland's only coastguard centre, which is threatened with closure under…
Weekend 'Super Moon' Increases Risk of Strandings
Irish Water Safety is today warning the public of the increased risk to people becoming stranded whilst walking or picking shellfish on our beaches over the weekend. The moon will be at its closest to earth since 1993 on Saturday…
Spending the Day with the Howth Coast Guard
The Government news service MerrionStreet.ie recently paid a visit to the Howth Coast Guard unit to see some of its 24 volunteers train on the water and cliffs. Cliff rescue forms a major part of the work done by…
Coast Guard National Courage Awardees Attend Brimingham's St. Patricks Parade
Achill Coast Guard Unit, (recipients of a National Courage Award in November 2010) will this weekend be honoured as part of the festivities for the third largest St. Patricks Parade in the world (in Birmingham, UK). The Unit were invited…
Nine out of 10 Distress Alerts in US 'Have No Location Info'
The US Coast Guard has shown concern at the number of distress calls made from yachts that do not include GPS position information to aid rescuers in their location. Already in the US, all newly installed VHF radios are required…
Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat Station Appoints Chairman
Mr. Terry Johnson has been appointed chairman of the Lifeboat Management Group (LMG) for the RNLI at Dun Laoghaire.  Formerly a deputy chairman of the RNLI, he is an accomplished mariner and has a long-standing commitment to the charitable work…
Bangor Locals Confront Officials Over Coastguard Centre Closure
Bangor locals came face-to-face with officials from the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) over the proposals to close Northern Ireland's only full-time sea rescue base. The Belfast Telegraph reports that MCA bosses were loudly heckled when they tried to…
Coastguard Calls for Doolin Pier Go-Ahead
The Doolin Coast Guard Unit has urged Clare County Council to continue its €6 million development plan for Doolin Point. The pier plan has faced opposition from surfers who argue that the development will ruin the popular waves in the…
Dramatic Photos of Clifden Lifeboat Battling Surf
Spectacular photographs taken from the shore by Lifeboat Operations Manager John Brittain during Clifden RNLI's special surf training recently on Dunloughan beach show the type of conditions that volunteer lifeboat crew train in for the life-saving charity. The shots capture…
Howth Lifeboat Rescues Three Vessels
Howth RNLI voluntary lifeboat crew were tasked twice last Friday, to aid three vessels in difficulty off the Howth coast. The Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) was just returning to the safety of the harbour with two motorboats in tow, when the…
Coast Guard Hits Out Over Search & Rescue Deal Reports
The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) has lashed out over newspaper articles on the recent €500m deal with CHC Ireland to provide search and rescue services. The it was recently reported in an Irish newspaper that Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd…

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.