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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
The Clogherhead RNLI Shannon class all-weather lifeboat
Clogherhead RNLI volunteers were called upon to assist a disabled vessel off the northeast coast near Clogherhead. Clogherhead Coast Guard requested that Clogherhead RNLI volunteers launch the Shannon class all-weather lifeboat on Sunday, 16th June, at approximately 4.30 p.m. to…
Float to Live
To mark National Water Safety Awareness Week in Ireland, this Tuesday (18 June) the RNLI will launch its Float to Live campaign at the Forty Foot swimming spot in Sandycove with a demonstration on how to carry out the technique…
Members of Bristow Ireland conducted “technical acceptance” of the AW189 helicopter they will be flying at the aircraft manufacturer, Leonardo, in Milan, Italy, last weekend, according to the company. The aircraft will have a new livery and this was photographed while one of the helicopters was airborne for the technical test flight
Bristow Group Inc has announced that Bristow Leasing Limited, a U.K. subsidiary, has entered into a new loan facility for 100 million euro to support its Irish Coast Guard contract commitments. As Vertical magazine reports, the export development guarantee term-loan…
File image of Bangor RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
Bangor RNLI launched to the aid of two people on Wednesday evening (12 June) after their boat encountered engine problems near Groomsport. At 8.35pm, Bangor’s RNLI volunteers launched their Atlantic 85 class lifeboat Jessie Hillyard following a request from Belfast Coastguard…
The new currach 'an bideach', built in Kilkenny, will be launched on the River Barrow at Carlow in July
Three Irish men have come together to build a traditional Currach in aid of two charities, Teac Tom Mental Health Services and the RNLI. Pat Comerford of Carlow Rowing Club, along with Pat Sweeney of Achill and Paul Palmer of…
Karol McNern from Ballyshannon, a former helm at Bundoran RNLI, will ride unsupported from Malin to Mizen — a 1,225km route from one end of Ireland to the other — and back
A Donegal cyclist is set to embark on a mammoth world-record cycle attempt, riding unsupported from Malin to Mizen — a 1,225km route from one end of Ireland to the other — and back. The gruelling non-stop ride is set…
J109 yacht Jelly Baby from the Royal Cork Yacht Club n the rocks at the entrance to Cork Harbour during an Autumn League race. No one was injured in the incident on October 24th, 2021, when nine crew were competing in the last race of the series.
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) says the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) should take action to ensure skippers and people in charge of its racing yacht fleet review their crew training obligations. The review should be conducted in the…
Portaferry RNLI volunteer crew assess the second casualty when brought onboard the lifeboat in the man-overboard exercise on Sunday 9 June
Portaferry RNLI joined the Strangford ferry service and Portaferry Coastguard on Sunday morning (9 June) for a planned man-overboard exercise on Strangford Lough. The exercise focused on an alert that one, then two people had fallen overboard. There was a…
Galway RNLI return to the dock in Galway Harbour with the capsized vessel in tow
In a dramatic rescue operation, the Galway RNLI saved three individuals after their boat capsized off Salthill yesterday evening. The Irish Coast Guard swiftly dispatched the volunteer crew following reports of a small boat in distress off Blackrock in Salthill,…
File image of Enniskillen RNLI’s inshore lifeboat John and Jean Lewis
At 10.55pm on Friday evening (7 June), Enniskillen RNLI’s inshore lifeboat John and Jean Lewis was launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard to assess a boat with six people onboard, which had encountered difficulties while making its way from…
Youghal RNLI observes Helvick Head’s inshore lifeboat approaching the 35ft yacht in difficulty
Youghal RNLI’s volunteer crew in East Cork were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 4.03pm on Sunday (9 June) to assist a sailor onboard a 35ft yacht that had suffered steering failure some two miles south of Mine Head…
British Coast Guard Rescue aircraft provided support for the Shannon-based Rescue 115 Irish Coast Guard helicopter on Sunday (June 9) in a medical evacuation
British air assets assisted the Irish Coast Guard with two medical evacuations off the Irish coast within a two-day period. A British Coast Guard Rescue99 aircraft provided support for the Shannon-based Rescue 115 Irish Coast Guard helicopter on Sunday (June…
Newcastle lifeboat and Portaferry lifeboat tow the Newcastle lifeboat and Portaferry lifeboat towing the dismasted casualty vessel
The all-weather RNLI lifeboat Leonard Kent from Newcastle was launched early on Saturday to aid a 29-foot yacht with four people on board, approximately 20 miles southeast of Newcastle. The yacht had suffered a dismasting, prompting an urgent response from…
Local artist and Wexford woman Helen Mason (left) is joined by volunteer lifeboat crew from Fethard RNLI to launch Be by the Sea: (from second left) Michael Cooper, Clara Bracken, Paddy O’Regan and Trica Rice
A Wexford woman living on the Hook Peninsula has been inspired to create a new fundraising initiative for the RNLI, which also promotes the benefits of being by the sea. Local artist Helen Mason, who is married to a local…
Lough Derg RNLI’s lifeboat Jean Spier en route to the reported location of the swimmer in difficulty on Saturday 8 June
Lough Derg RNLI were requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard on Saturday afternoon (8 June) to locate and assist a swimmer reported to be in difficulty by a member of the public on shore. The bystander could see the…
Over 300 swimmers took to the Celtic Sea as part of Dunmore East RNLI Open Water Swim 2024
This past weekend, hundreds of swimmers of varying skill levels gathered to take part in the thrilling Dunmore East RNLI Open Water Swim. The event, which is supported by EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid, serves as…

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.