Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
The volunteer lifeboat crew at Lough Derg RNLI will be taking to the small screen again on Tuesday 17 November at 8 pm, as they feature in the seventh episode of the BBC TV series Saving Lives at Sea. Real-life…
Launch of New Irish Children’s Book on Connemara is a Boost to Clifden Lifeboat Team
6th November 2020 RNLI Lifeboats
A new children’s book focusing on the local history and mythology of the North West Connemara region has been launched this week in Co Galway. And a portion of the proceeds is being donated to the Clifden RNLI lifeboats for…
University College Dublin ADCP Buoy Now to Be Deployed off Inis Mor This Weekend
5th November 2020 Marine Warning
The deployment of an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) sub-surface installation by University College Dublin, which was scheduled to take place between 15 - 21 October 2020 as Afloat previously reported, will now take place on 7 November 2020. The…
As Storm Aiden brought its gale-force winds and driving rain from Ireland to western Scotland, Oban RNLI launched to assist a fishing vessel in distress in Loch Etive. The 22ft fishing boat, with four on board, had broken down west…
Storm Aiden Prompts Status Orange Warning for Southern and Western Counties & All Coastal Waters
30th October 2020 Weather
A Status Orange weather warning is in place for all Irish coastal waters and the Irish Sea as strong gales are set to develop overnight with the arrival of Storm Aiden, the first of the new storm season. Met Éireann…
Baltimore RNLI were called out to provide a medical evacuation this morning (Friday 30 October) from Heir Island off the coast of West Cork. The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 9.22am following a request from the Irish Coast…
Skerries Lifeboat Rescues Father & Son Cut Off by Tide on Shenick Island
28th October 2020 RNLI Lifeboats
A father and son were rescued by Skerries RNLI after they were stranded on Shenick Island by the rising tide yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 27 October). Pagers sounded for the lifeboat volunteers at 3pm and within minutes the Atlantic 85 inshore…
Record Year for Rescues as People Turn to Coast & Waterways During Covid-19
28th October 2020 Rescue
Rescue agencies are reporting a record year for incidents on the water as thousands of people turned to the coastline, lakes and rivers during Covid-19. The Irish Coast Guard, RNLI and Water Safety Ireland have all been under pressure to…
New Review Board Appointed into Draft Final Rescue 116 Helicopter Crash Report
27th October 2020 Rescue
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has appointed a new review board into the Air Accident Investigation Unit’s (AAIU) final report on the Rescue 116 helicopter crash. As The Irish Independent reports today, the review experienced a setback last month when…
Belfast Harbour has pledged support to Lagan Search & Rescue to the tune of £100,000 (€110,000) over the next five years, as the News Letter reports. The arrangement includes continued provision of an operations base and lifeboat berths for the…
Risk of Drowning Greater on Lakes & Rivers, Says Water Safety Ireland
25th October 2020 Water Safety
In asking the public to remain vigilant near water this Bank holiday weekend, Water Safety Ireland says the risks are even greater at inland waterways. Although 40,000 people live less than 100 metres from the coast and some 2 million…
The RNLI has issued a plea for the public to take heed of important water safety advice as schools begin the mid-term break and the Government has introduced Level 5 restrictions to deal with Covid-19. With the Government restriction on…
UK Coastguard Responded to 31,000 Incidents at the Coast - Annual Report
22nd October 2020 Coastguard
The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency's (MCA) annual report for April 2019 – March 2020 has been published this week, highlighting the work of the Agency for the 12 month period. Although the report doesn’t cover the period where the…
Kinsale Lifeboat Volunteers Receive Early Christmas Gift From Steam Engine Fundraiser
22nd October 2020 RNLI Lifeboats
Like most other charities, the volunteers of Kinsale RNLI have had their fundraising activities curtailed due to Covid-19 restrictions. So it came as a welcome surprise to learn that local steam engine enthusiast Rory Nagle had launched a special mission…
Three RNLI Lifeboats Assist 4,000 Tonne Cargo Vessel in Danger of Hitting Rocks off Wexford Coast (Video)
21st October 2020 RNLI Lifeboats
RNLI lifeboat crews from Dunmore East, Kilmore Quay and Rosslare Harbour were requested to launch yesterday (Tuesday 20 October) after reports that a 4,000-tonne cargo vessel, the Lily B, had lost all power and was in danger of hitting rocks…
In a major mobilisation of rescue services off the south-east coast this evening, the Irish Coast Guard is coordinating assistance being provided to a cargo vessel that has lost power off the Waterford Harbour. The Coast Guard said in a…
