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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat rescues 3 people swept out to sea
Bundoran RNLI lifeboat last night (Saturday 19 September 2009) saved three people who were swept out to sea off the coast of Bundoran in county Donegal. The three included two swimmers and a member of the public who went to…
Vessels Rescued from Rocks
Lough Deg RNLI lifeboat with helm Eleanor Hooker, Robbie Garland and Colin Knight on board, launched on Monday 14 September at 20.00hrs. The air was calm and it was dusk. The lifeboat located the vessels, which had been travelling together,…
Man Stuck in the Mud
On the far side of the Irish Sea Swansea Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the Mumbles Yacht Club in Wales. He reported seeing a man stuck in the mud approximately fifty metres off the Antelope slip…
Motor launch sinks off Cork Harbour
A lone sailor was plucked to safety yesterrday evening moments before his 36' motor launch sank off Roberts Cove, Southwest of Cork Harbour by Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat. The Lifeboat launched at 19.29 with Volunteer RNLI crew of Kieran Coniry, Con…
Hoax call sparks large search in Irish Sea
At five minutes to four yesterday afternoon Milford Haven Coastguard received a call from Ambulance Control informing them that they had received a 999 call from a young person reporting that they were on board a small vessel in difficulty…
Coastguard assists Kayakers in Irish Sea
At just before 1.00 pm on Sunday, a 999 call from the Towy Boat Club reported three kayakers struggling in the fast-flowing river Towy having capsized and become parted from their double sit-on kayaks in wind over tide conditions. It…
Lifeboats launch to Dromineer Bay
Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched at 12:30hrs yesterday (September 3rd) following a request from Valentia Coast Guard to assist two persons on board a yacht aground in Dromineer Bay, and two persons on board a cruiser who were in also…
RNLI memorial pays tribute to lost Irish lifesavers
Flags at RNLI lifeboat stations have been lowered today (Thursday 3 September) as a unique memorial, dedicated to those who lost their lives while helping to save others at sea, is unveiled outside the Lifeboat college in Dorset. Of the…
Man and three children rescued after being cut off by the tide
At five minutes to three this afternoon, Swansea Coastguard received a 999 call from the car park attendant at Nash Point lighthouse on the Irish Sea reporting that a group consisting of one man and three children had not returned…
RNLI Benefit Night at Poolbeg Y&BC
Hosted by Betty Boop (John Alvey, Clodagh Whelan, Mark Alvey and James Ryan), who had to be towed 50 miles by the Dunmore East Lifeboat after their rudder broke off on the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race, Poolbeg Yacht &…
Yacht towed to safety at Ballycotton harbour
A yacht with three people on board has been towed to safety off the south-west coast after getting into difficulty earlier today (13th August 2009). Ballycotton Lifeboat and a Waterford-based Coast Guard helicopter were launched to locate and assist the…
Lifeboat Sea Safety Roadshow visits Clifden
If you have a lifejacket (or lifejackets) why not bring it (or them) along to the Lifeboat Sea Safety Roadshow on Sunday 16th August at the square in Clifden? You can get a free condition check of any lifejacket and…
Lifeboat tows plane wreckage
The Rosslare RNLI lifeboat crew towed the wreckage of a light aircraft into Carne tonight (Tuesday 11 August) after it crashed into the sea, at around 5pm this evening, near Tuskar rock, Wexford. Both Rosslare and Kilmore Quay all weather…
No flares, no lifejackets, what's new?
At ten minutes to five this evening, Holyhead Coastguard were alerted to three people who had launched a 12 foot white speedboat with a red stripe called ‘Ring 15’ into Bull Bay around an hour previously and had not returned.…
Hoax call at New Quay, Wales
Milford Haven Coastguard launched a major search for two anglers in the early hours of Saturday morning but it was discovered to be a hoax.  As the search continued it became clear that the boat was not in the location…
Boys saved from Castlerock Caves
Two boys aged 13 and 14 were rescued last night (Wednesday 5th August) after becoming stuck in a cave near Castlerock, Co. Londonderry, reports the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency. Coast Guard Rescue Teams from Castlerock and Ballycastle worked alongside…

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.