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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Castletownbere Lifeboat Crew Honoured At National Water Safety Awards
#RNLI - Two members of Castletownbere’s RNLI lifeboat crew were honoured at Irish Water Safety’s national award ceremony in Dublin Castle this week. Lifeboat mechanic Martin O’Donoghue and crewmember and Garda Dave Fenton, together with his colleague Garda Caroline Guest,…
MCIB Issues Report On Fisherman's Death By Head Injury On 'FV Liberty'
#MCIB - Poor adherence to various safety regulations made worse the situation in which a fisherman died of severe head injury off Cork in February last year, according to an official report into the incident. As previously reported on Afloat.ie,…
Exercise Turns Callout For Newcastle Lifeboat’s New Coxswain
#RNLI - A lifeboat training exercise in Carlingford Lough over the weekend turned into a real life callout for the volunteer lifeboat crew of Newcastle RNLI when they were tasked by Belfast Coastguard to go to the assistance of a…
Union Hall Lifeboat Answers First Callout
#RNLI - Last Thursday 13 November, Union Hall RNLI in West Cork responded to its first callout since becoming operational. The volunteer lifeboat crew Anthony Walsh, Lee Miles and Tim Forde launched their B Class Atlantic 75 lifeboat, Maritime Nation, at…
Teamwork Helps Tramore Lifeboat Bring Bull To Safety
#RNLI - Tramore RNLI's volunteers were involved in a rescue operation with a difference recently when they worked alongside Tramore Coast Guard and Waterford Animal Welfare to bring a stranded bull to safety after he had fallen from a cliff…
Excessive Speed, Poor Visibility To Blame For Lough Ree RIB Collision - MCIB Report
#MCIB - Excessive speed and poor visibility were the biggest contributing factors in a RIB crash incident on Lough Ree two years ago, according to accident investigators. One passenger sustained head injuries when the RIB, with a helmsman and three…
Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Completes 11 Hour Rescue of 120–Ton Fishing Vessel
#rnli – The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat was called out at 10.40 am yesterday morning to go to the aid of a 90ft–fishing vessel that had got into difficulties while fishing 35 miles off the Coast of Seven Heads in…
Marine Notice: Recovery Of Persons From The Water
#WaterSafety - The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport advises that, in accordance with SOLAS Chapter III Regulation 17-1, 'Recovery of persons from the water', cargo ships over 500 gross tonnage and all passenger ships on international voyages shall develop…
Cork Athlete Derval O'Rourke Launches the Fota House RNLI Reindeer Run to Help Save Lives at Sea
#rnli – World and European Medallist and three time Olympian Derval O'Rourke has joined forces with RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew and their children, to help launch the RNLI Reindeer Run, which raises funds for the charity that saves lives at…
Wave Measuring Device at Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre, Co. Cork
#castletownbere – The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been advised that a wave measuring device has been installed on the seabed, adjacent to the Walter Scott Rock, at co-ordinates Latitude 51° 38' 33.6"N, Longitude 009° 54' 20.4"W. A…
Kayakers Spend Night Stranded On Island
#Rescue - It was an unexpected night outdoors for two kayakers who were stranded on an island in the Black Valley near Killarney after losing their paddles. As the Irish Examiner reports, Valentia Coastguard were unable to mount a rescue…
Marine Notice: Live Surface To Air Firing Practices At Gormanston Ranges
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport advises that the Defence Forces will conduct live surface to air firing practices at Gormanston Ranges on 4 and 5 November 2014 between 10am and 2.30pm…
Planning To Light Chinese Lanterns Tonight? Let The Coast Guard Know
#ChineseLanterns - With Halloween celebrations kicking off this evening as soon as the sun goes down, Bundoran RNLI has a timely reminder for anyone considering lighting Chinese lanterns. A simple courtesy call to the Irish Coast Guard to let them…
Marine Notice: Site Investigation Works At Howth Fishery Harbour Centre
#MarineNotice - The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport advises that site investigation works will commence at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre on or around today 29 October, weather permitting. The works, involving geotechnical investigations within the western trawler basin, are…
Hypothermic Casualty Rescued From Water At Dollymount
#Rescue - BreakingNews.ie reports on the rescue of a man from the water at Dollymount Strand on Monday morning (27 October). Emergency services were dispatched to the scene after a passer-by expressed concern for a person seen in the cold…
Skerries Lifeboat Assists Stranded Periwinkle Pickers
#RNLI - Skerries RNLI assisted three periwinkle pickers who were in danger of being completely cut off by the rising tide on their return from Shenick Island last Friday evening (24 October). The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their Atlantic 85…

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.