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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
The Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat crew safely transferred the patient to Rossaveal and into the care of a waiting ambulance crew
The Aran Islands RNLI carried out a medical evacuation off Inis Mór yesterday evening (Thursday, 18 July). The volunteer crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 6:40 p.m. following a request from the Coast Guard to transfer a…
Mary Rose Deasy receives her Excellence in Volunteering award from Union Hall RNLI’s lifeboat operations manager John Kelleher
A Union Hall RNLI volunteer has received an Excellence in Volunteering recognition from the charity. The RNLI presents Excellence in Volunteering Awards to recognise volunteers who deserve special recognition for making a difference to their team or community. Mary Rose…
File image of Fenit RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat
Fenit RNLI has a double cause for celebration this weekend as it marks the 30th anniversary of the return of the service to a new base in Fenit Harbour after an absence of 25 years, as this year the lifesaving…
File image of Larne RNLI’s D class inshore lifeboat at sea
Larne RNLI came to the aid of a man who was drifting out to sea on an inflatable dinghy on Monday afternoon (15 July). The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore D class lifeboat at 1.15pm at the…
Aran Islands RNLI crew Thomas Davis, Daniel O’Connell, Tommy Dirrane and Máirtín de Bhailis pictured with open sea swimmer Fergal and Mags Somerville. Front row are Mark Rush and Gordon Adair
In a remarkable feat of endurance and fundraising, Dublin man Fergal Somerville successfully completed a 35km open water swim around Inis Mór, raising €8,500 for the Aran Islands RNLI. Somerville, a Guinness World record-breaking swimmer, took on this challenge, which…
The recovered body of the Inishbofin fisherman was taken to Clifden by RNLI lifeboat. The MCIB has initiated an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death.
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has confirmed that it has initiated an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of an island fisherman off the west coast earlier this month. John Burke (57) of Middle Quarter, Inishbofin, Co…
Clifden RNLI allweather lifeboat launched under Coxswain Alan Pryce
Clifden RNLI came to the aid of two sailors yesterday afternoon (Monday 15 July) after their 26ft yacht got into difficulty with a fouled propellor while on passage from Roundstone earlier that morning. The volunteer crew were requested to launch…
Scott Blackwood with his proud parents at Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
Portaferry RNLI has passed out a new helm at its inshore lifeboat station on Northern Ireland’s Ards Peninsula. Scott Blackwood (29), originally from Newtownards, moved to Portaferry in 2020 to be closer to his partner Nicole and joined the lifeboat…
The INEOS Grenadier will be rolled out to 20 stations across Ireland and the UK to launch and recover D-class lifeboats
INEOS Automotive has become an official partner of the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea. Over the next five years, the INEOS Grenadier will become the official vehicle of RNLI lifeboats and support the RNLI by helping their…
The Groomsport Lifeboat panel image pictures Christine Scholes (left) and Ann Blachford. The last coxswain of the Groomsport lifeboat, Robert Waterson, was Ann’s grandfather and Christine’s great uncle
An exhibition celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the RNLI is currently running in the Long Gallery at the North Down Museum in Bangor on Belfast Lough. Over the years, the charity’s volunteers have answered the call to rescue day or…
Aran Islands RNLI launched their all-weather lifeboat at 2.46 am, under Coxswain Tommy Dirrane, following a 999 call. Three people were drifting in a fibreglass dinghy which was taking on water approximately five miles northeast of Inis Mór
Aran Islands RNLI came to the aid of three people drifting in a dinghy on Sunday morning (14 July). The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 2.46 am, under Coxswain Tommy Dirrane, following a 999 call. Three…
RNLI Fish Friday encourages people to come together and enjoy their favourite fish dish on any Friday in August while raising money to help save lives at sea
The RNLI is calling on the public to gather their own crew together this summer and take part in the charity’s foodie fundraiser, Fish Friday. Taking place throughout August, Fish Friday encourages people to come together with friends and family…
Clifden RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Joyce King with a vessel under tow
Clifden RNLI’s volunteer crew launched both lifeboats on Thursday afternoon (11 July) to assist three divers who had experienced a rapid ascent near Friar Island. The crew were tasked at around 4.15pm to reports of divers in difficulty a mile…
The 32-foot West Cork-based yacht, with four persons onboard, under tow by the RNLI Castletownbere from the Fastnet Rock
Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat was launched early this morning to assist a 32-foot West Cork-based yacht, with four persons onboard, which had lost its ability to manoeuvre three miles south of the Fastnet Rock. The lifeboat received an alert at 06:15…
Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat speeds to the 20ft cruiser that had suffered engine failure west of Garrykennedy Harbour on Thursday evening 11 July
Lough Derg RNLI launched to the aid of seven on a 20ft cruiser that had suffered engine failure and was drifting towards rocks west of Garrykennedy Harbour on Thursday evening (11 July). At 4.45pm, Lough Derg’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier…
Wicklow all-weather lifeboat RNLB Bridie O’Shea. The lifeboat will be on display during our Annual Station Open Day this Sunday
Wicklow all-weather lifeboat RNLB Bridie O’Shea was launched just before noon today (Wednesday 10 July) following a Coast Guard pager alert, to reports of an EPIRB (emergency distress beacon) activation in the Wicklow area. The lifeboat under the command of…

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.