Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Sea Swimmers Warned Over Cold Water Temperatures After Rescue of Hypothermic Casualty at Howth Head
5th January 2023 Sea Swim
Howth’s Irish Coast Guard unit reminds sea swimmers to be wary of cold water temperatures after they responded to a hypothermic swimmer needing medical assistance on Wednesday morning (4 January). The casualty was taken safely from the water at Balscadden…
Kinsale RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew along with the assistance of four coastguard units rescued two stranded dogs on Bank Holiday Monday (2 January). The dogs had gotten into difficulty at the bottom of a cliff near Nohoval Cove in West…
Satellite Rocket Launch Prompts Call for Vigilance by Mariners Off Ireland’s South West Next Week
4th January 2023 Marine Warning
Ireland’s first Marine Notice of 2023 is out of this world — quite literally, as it advises of potential hazard at sea from a satellite rocket launch from Cornwall next week. Virgin Orbit has designated a space launch hazard area…
The UK’s Office for Product Safety & Standards have announced the recall of a popular lifejacket over safety concerns. The product, which was sold via Amazon as Life Jacket 150N, has been identified as presenting a serious risk of drowning…
Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI rescued a kite surfer who had drifted offshore and become entangled in the kite's lines. The rescue occurred off Dollymount Strand, one mile northeast of Bull Island, this afternoon (Sunday, 1 January). The Irish Coast Guard…
Howth Coastguard and Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat Tasked to Dollymount Kitesurfer in Difficulty
1st January 2023 Rescue
It was a swift start to the New Year this afternoon (Sunday 1 January) for the team at Howth’s Irish Coast Guard unit as they were tasked to a kitesurfer who was blown offshore after the wind dropped near Dollymount…
A fuel leak is believed to have caused a fire on board a passenger ferry linking Ballyhack, Co Wexford with Passage East in Waterford, last year. A Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) report says the crew of the Frazer Tintern…
The year just ended was a significant one for Lough Ree RNLI, both on and off the water. 2022 witnessed the opening of the charity’s ‘state of the art’ lifeboat station while on the water the volunteer crew responded to…
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers have been recognised in His Majesty The King’s New Year Honours for their roles in helping the charity save lives at sea. Five RNLI volunteers with nearly 240 years of service between them – including…
Today, Friday 30th December, the Irish Coast Guard publishes an end-of-year summary of statistics for the past year. In 2022, the Irish Coast Guard (to date) coordinated responses to 2699 incidents which is the second-highest number in 5 years. August…
An investigation into a close-quarter incident involving two passenger ferries in Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford, is highly critical of port control and poor communication on the bridge of one of the ships. It also highlights failure by the Government to…
Belated Celebration to Mark Retirement of Baltimore Lifeboat’s Former Coxswain Kieran Cotter
26th December 2022 RNLI Lifeboats
Baltimore RNLI will host a proper send-off for its retired former coxswain Kieran Cotter this Tuesday evening 27 December from 8pm at Jacob’s Bar in the West Cork village. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Cotter retired at the end of…
Christmas Eve Lifeboat Tragedy Remembered at Dun Laoghaire RNLI Ceremony on the East Pier
24th December 2022 RNLI Lifeboats
Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI lifeboat crew gathered today (Christmas Eve) to lay wreaths on Dublin Bay and remember 15 of their lifeboat colleagues who were lost while on service in gale force conditions to the SS Palme that had run…
Water Safety Ireland is urging those planning festive charity dips to be mindful of the effect of a new moon on Dec 23rd which will lead to higher tides throughout the weekend. Higher tides can hide unfamiliar depths and hazards…
Brian MacCoitir of the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation Recalls Downpatrick Head Rescue
23rd December 2022 Wavelength Podcast
There have been many extraordinary rescue efforts in Irish waters over the past year. One which few involved will ever forget lasted 22 hours, close to Downpatrick Head in north Mayo this past September. It took 14 hours alone to…
A Galway riverbank patrol group has appealed to those socialising during the festive season to keep an eye and ear out for friends in the city. The Claddagh Watch group of volunteers will walk the Corrib riverbanks up to and…
