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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Bundoran Lifeboat Call Out to Surfer in Difficulty
#LIFEBOAT – Bundoran RNLI lifeboat were tasked this evening (Saturday, 11 February) to a surfer who was said to be in difficulty at the main beach. An telephone call was made to Malin Head Coast Guard by a concerned member…
Phil Coulter Sings for Ballycotton RNLI
#LIFEBOAT – The annual fundraising dinner in aid of Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat was held on Wednesday, 8 February, at The Grain Store, Ballymaloe, in East Cork, with special guest, Phil Coulter. Tickets sold out well in advance of the event,…
Scottish Search and Rescue Base UK's Busiest in 2011
#RESCUE - The Royal Navy search and rescue unit at HMS Gannet was the busiest in the UK last year, STV News reports. The unit - based in Prestwick, near Glasgow - responded to nearly 300 call-outs and rescued 240…
Lifeboats Receive 1,000 Calls for Help in 2011
#LIFEBOATS – RNLI Lifeboats in Ireland launched 980 times to a variety of call outs in 2011. 905 people were rescued over the course of the year by volunteer lifeboat crews who spent over 9,826 hours on service at sea.…
Walkers Rescued at West Kirby
#COASTGUARD – Two walkers have been rescued from the water at West Kirby on the River Dee estuary after a three hour ordeal, lost in fog. Liverpool Coastguard received a 999 call from the pair at 5.10pm reporting that they…
Hangin' Around off Wicklow
#LIFEBOAT – Wicklow Lifeboat took part in a joint training exercise with an Air Corp helicopter in Wicklow bay on Saturday morning. The Air Corp AW139 helicopter crew landed on the Castle near the lifeboat Station at Wicklow harbour for…
Howth Lifeboat Crew Aid Fishing Vessel
#RESCUE – Lifeboat crew with Howth RNLI spent over ten hours on Saturday (4 February 2012) assisting a 17 metre fishing tralwer, with seven crew onboard, 36 miles north east of Howth, which was rapidly taking on water. Howth RNLI…
Coastguard Takes Delivery of New Chopper
#COASTGUARD - The Irish Coast Guard has taken delivery of its new search and rescue helicopter at its Shannon base, The Irish Times reports. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Sikorsky completed production of the new S-92 helicopter for the Irish…
Northern Ireland Lifeguard Saving Lives in Cameroon
#LIFEBOATS – While RNLI beach lifeguards take a break from life-saving on the North coast of Northern Ireland, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Tim Doran, originally from Armagh and living in Portstewart, along with his colleague Ross Macleod, RNLI Beach Safety Programme…
Italian Coastguard to Deliver Keynote at Dublin Conference
#COASTGUARD - Representaives of Italy's coastguard will give an account of its handling of the Costa Concordia tragedy at an international conference in Dublin next month, The Irish Times reports. The Italian coastguard has been invited to deliver the keynote…
Search for Fisherman in Irish Sea Enters Second Day
#RESCUE - The Irish Times reports that the search has resumed for a fisherman who fell overboard from a trawler in the Irish Sea yesterday. The crewman of the Kilkeel-registered fishing vessel Zenith was reported missing some nine miles (14.5km) off…
Fisher Entertains By the Lee in Aid of the RNLI (Photos here!)
#SAILING BY THE LEE – Maritime journalist Bob Fisher entertained over 200 guests today at the annual RNLI "Sailing by the Lee" Lunch 2012 in Cork. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS BELOW BY BOB BATEMAN. The large crowd from the maritime…
Actress Saoirse Ronan Calls to Wicklow Lifeboat Station
#SAOIRSE RONAN – Volunteer lifeboat crew with Wicklow RNLI received a surprise visitor during their navigation course this morning (Monday 23 January 2012).  Well known actress Saoirse Ronan dropped in to say hello while filming nearby. The actress was filming…
Marine Notice: Rock Placement Offshore at Rush Beach
#MARINE NOTICE - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises on rock placement operations offshore at North Beach in Rush, Co Dublin and in the Irish Sea. Works commenced on 19 January to…
Limited Safety Briefing, Poor Weather Led to Death of Romanian Angler - MCIB
#MCIB - The decision to set out in poor weather, coupled with limited safety instruction, led to the tragic death of a Romanian angler on Lough Mask last summer, according to a report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB).…
Body Recovered as Search for West Cork Fishermen Continues
#RESCUE - Garda divers have this morning recovered a body in their search for the crew of the fishing vessel Tit Bonhomme off the coast of West Cork. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, five of the six-person crew went missing…

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.