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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Crosshaven Lifeboat's Yellow Wellies, on the last of their Sunday-Morning-in-May-2024 outings tip a nod to the Beatles Abbey Road image with (left to right) Kline Pennefather, Darryl Hughes, Maeve Leonard, Stormy Stan), Aisling Ryan and Hugh Tully
Time was - and it's not so very long ago - that if you wanted to see the nearest set of traffic lights and other road control paraphernalia to Crosshaven, then you'd have to go well into Cork City. Not…
File image of Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
HM Coastguard requested the launch of Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat on Friday evening (24 May) to assist a 35ft yacht which was making slow progress after having suffered engine failure eight miles to the north-east of Strangford Bar in Northern…
Attending the RNLI 200 garden party were volunteer crew from Dun Laoghaire RNLI (from left): helm Nathan Burke, station mechanic and coxswain Kieran ‘Colley’ O’Connell and helm Gary Hayes
Volunteers from Irish lifeboat stations including Dun Laoghaire, Arklow and Union Hall were among the 2,500 guests at a special garden party at Buckingham Palace last Thursday (23 May) to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution…
File image of Bundoran RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
Bundoran RNLI’s volunteers were called on Saturday morning (25 May) to assist in a water rescue off Mullaghmore in Co Sligo. It was reported that a casualty had fallen from a boat and was struggling in the water. The alarm…
350 swimmers are expected for three swims of varying length at the Dunmore East RNLI Open Water Swim Charity Event on June 2nd at Waterford Harbour Sailing Club
The Dunmore East RNLI Open Water Swim Charity Event will be held from Waterford Harbour Sailing Club on Sunday, June 2, with a predicted 350 sea swimmers expected for three swims of varying length - 1,600m, 800m, and 500m. “This…
With Crosshaven Lifeboat's cool crewmember Moira Kavanagh and thirsty Peter the Pooch, aka the Crosshaven Sea Scouts' collie, Crosshaven Lifeboat's mascot is becoming Sweatin' Stormy Stan the Perspiring Philanthropist as he thankfully starts his way back from the turn in the weekend's fund-raiser. He led last Sunday's third-of-four Sunday morning lifeboat fund-raising walks from the Crosshaven RNLI station to Drake's Pool and back. The final walk takes place this Sunday morning (May 26th) at 10am, meanwhile can anyone tell us more about the white cruising yacht in the background here?
The weekly Sunday morning yellow-welly fund-raise walks that have been a feature of each May weekend in Crosshaven, going sociably along the easy Cork Harbour shore path to Drake's Pool and back to the lifeboat station for welcome sustenance, will…
The inshore lifeboat Douglas Euan & Kay Richards makes way to the last reported position of the grounded vessel on Upper Lough Erne on Saturday 18 May
Carrybridge RNLI’s volunteers were called by Belfast Coastguard on Saturday afternoon (18 May) to assess a 6m vessel with one person on board which had run aground some two miles upstream from the lifeboat station on Upper Lough Erne in…
Olivia Byrne, volunteer crew with Galway RNLI who was one of five finalists for the Capt Dara Fitzpatrick Award organised by Irish Paramedicine Education and Research Network to celebrate inspirational women who work in the Irish pre-hospital community and emergency services
Galway RNLI lifeboat volunteer Olivia Byrne has been recognised for her exceptional service as a finalist for the prestigious Captain Dara Fitzpatrick Award. The award, which acknowledges the vital work of first responders and the significant role of women in…
RYANI chief Greg Yarnall with PSNI officers announcing the forthcoming marine flare disposal day for Northern Ireland boaters
RYA Northern Ireland has been working closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Stephen Dunne, MLA for North Down to arrange a marine flare disposal day for Northern Ireland boaters. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, marine flares…
The Fethard lifeboat crew found a Jack Russel terrier that had fallen 30-40 feet onto a bed of seaweed
Lifeboat crew at Fethard RNLI sprang into action yesterday afternoon following a distress call from the Irish Coast Guard. The call, received at 4:30 pm on Sunday, May 19, requested assistance for a family pet that had fallen from a…
As the mission to save lives at sea continues, the Clogherhead Lifeboat Station looks forward to a bright future after 125 years of dedicated service
The Clogherhead RNLI Lifeboat station celebrated its 125th-anniversary last weekend with perfect weather, as the sun shone in a deep blue sky and the wind remained non-existent. The festivities kicked off on Saturday, 18th May, with a group of enthusiastic…
The oldest lifeboat taking part came from Sweden and was built in 1868
As the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, more than 40 rescue vessels, including both current and historical RNLI lifeboats as well as international boats, have come together to form a flotilla more than a…
A special cake to celebrate 20 years of Lough Derg RNLI last Sunday 12 May
As the RNLI commemorates the charity’s 200 years of lifesaving this year, Lough Derg RNLI celebrates 20 years of service on the lake. Last Sunday afternoon (12 May), volunteers past and present at the Lough Derg lifeboat station gathered with…
The Port of Cork Company in partnership with the RNLI hosted over 100 secondary and primary school students at the port in Ringaskiddy on Wednesday (15 May) for a “Student Safe” water safety
The Port of Cork Company in partnership with the RNLI hosted over 100 secondary and primary school students at the port in Ringaskiddy on Wednesday (15 May) for a “Student Safe” water safety event to promote heightened awareness of water…
Wicklow's all-weather lifeboat
The volunteer crew of Wicklow RNLI responded to two consecutive distress calls last Thursday (May 9th). The first call came in just before 1pm, reporting that two kayakers had capsized in the River Vartry, which flows into Wicklow Harbour. The…
File image of Galway RNLI’s inshore lifeboat at speed
Galway RNLI’s volunteer crew were requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard shortly before 4pm on Friday afternoon (10 May) following a call by a member of the public reporting four people on Hare Island cut off by the…

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.