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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
The seventh annual European Coast Guard event was co-organised with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex)
Multipurpose maritime operations in Europe were discussed by three partner EU agencies at an event hosted by the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) in Tenerife, Spain, last week. The seventh annual European Coast Guard event was co-organised with the European…
Two Coast Guard rescue helicopters based at Shannon (R115) and Waterford (R117) as well as Coast Guard Units from Dingle, Glenderry and Iveragh to assist in the search
The Irish Coast Guard are assisting An Garda Síochána in an ongoing search for a missing climber at Mount Brandon Co. Kerry. The Marine Rescue Co-ordination Sub-centre in Valentia has tasked the Coast Guard rescue helicopters based at Shannon (R115)…
The Kinsale RNLI inshore lifeboat
Kinsale RNLI came to the aid of two sailors on Saturday afternoon (30 June) after their 34-ft yacht lost steering and began to drift off the Old Head of Kinsale. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat…
Newcastle RNLI’s all weather lifeboat Leonard Kent about to launch on the shout
Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat, the Leonard Kent, was requested to launch around 7.20pm on Thursday evening (27 June) after HM Coastguard received a pan-pan message from a yacht some 20 miles south-east of Newcastle in Co Down, Northern Ireland. The…
Bangor RNLI's Jessie Hillyard and Ruby Robinson alongside each other
A new Atlantic 85 class inshore lifeboat has officially gone on service at Bangor RNLI in Northern Ireland. The Ruby Robinson arrived at the Co Down station on Tuesday afternoon (25 June) and replaces the Jessie Hillyard, which has been…
The Co Down lifeguard team who will provide a daily patrol on Tyrella, Murlough and Cranfield beaches
RNLI lifeguards are returning to their full-time regime patrolling a total of 11 Northern Ireland beaches along the Causeway Coast and in Co Down. The charity along with the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, the National Trust and Newry,…
The King Air aircraft, which will be deployed to Ireland as part of the Irish Coast Guard/Bristow contract
A British aviation and aerospace company has created an Irish subsidiary to supply two King Air aircraft for the new Irish Coast Guard contract. 2Excel Aviation has formed 2Excel Ireland to provide fixed-wing Coast Guard Services for Bristow Ireland. This…
File image of Larne RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Terry
Larne RNLI rescued four kayakers on Monday afternoon (24 June) after they got pushed out to sea by an offshore wind off Browns Bay and started to drift. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 2.12pm…
Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat waits for the Strangford Lough ferry service to depart before being recovered back to station
Portaferry RNLI’s pagers sounded on Sunday afternoon (23 June) after Belfast Coastguard received an ermergency position indication radio beacon (EPIRB) alert close to Portavogie. The inshore lifeboat launched at 1.05pm amid good conditions on Northern Ireland’s Co Down coast, with…
File image of Aran Islands RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat
Aran Islands RNLI launched to the aid of an injured cyclist on Inis Oírr on Monday afternoon (24 June). The volunteer crew on Inis Mór were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat just after 1pm following a report from the…
Skerries RNLI volunteers making their way ashore to assist the man and his dog on Saturday 22 June
Skerries RNLI volunteers responded to an emergency 999 call reporting that a dog had fallen from a cliff in Loughshinny shortly before 11am on Saturday morning (22 June). The volunteers in Skerries launched the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson…
File image of Youghal RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
On Thursday evening (20 June), during his first call-out as lifeboat helm with Youghal RNLI, Jack Nolan and his fellow crew rescued a kayaker who got into difficulty and ended up in the water near Capel Island. The lifeboat was…
Manufacturers recommend a yearly inspection of lifejackets by a trained technician and experienced lifejacket technical service engineer
“Don’t put yourself or the crew at risk - get your lifejacket serviced today.” That’s the appeal from chandlers nationwide during National Water Safety Week, which runs until June 23rd. Nick Bendon of CH Marine, a company leading in sea…
RYANI chief Greg Yarnall (left) at one of the marine flare disposal events organised around Northern Ireland on Saturday 15 June
Northern Ireland’s sailing community handed in an unprecedented 4,000 expired marine flares at disposal events held at Portrush Yacht Club, Bangor Marina and Lough Erne Yacht on Saturday 15 June. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, RYA Northern Ireland organised these…
Larne RNLI’s proud volunteer crew stand guard with their all-weather and inshore lifeboats
Larne RNLI will celebrate 30 years of lifesaving with an open day at the lifeboat station on Northern Ireland’s East Antrim coast this Saturday 22 June from noon to 4pm. Everyone is welcome to join the volunteer crew to celebrate…
Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier speeds to the casualty vessel in Youghal Bay on Monday afternoon 17 June
Lough Derg RNLI were requested to launch on Monday afternoon (17 June) to assist two people on a 16ft speed boat that ran aground in Youghal Bay after suffering engine failure. At 1.31pm, the inshore lifeboat Jean Spier launched with…

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.