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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
L-R RNLI Lifeguards, Bosco McAuley, Ali Boyd and Stephen Parish pictured yesterday in front of the RNLI Rescue Water Craft following the rescue at Whiterocks
In a dramatic rescue on Whiterocks beach at Portrush in County Antrim yesterday three RNLI lifeguards rescued two body boarders from rocks. In waves that reached well over head height the lifeguards launched their Rescue Water Craft and brought the two…
Crosshaven RNLI comes to the aid of the grounded yacht
#RNLI - A major search was mounted on the south coast between Crosshaven and Kinsale on Friday (15 July) after a lone yachtsman broadcast a Mayday call that he was on the rocks at the Little Sovereign Rock. Lifeboat pagers…
Fethard RNLI at sea
#RNLI - Fethard RNLI's inshore lifeboat Tradewinds launched yesterday afternoon (Sunday 17 July) to a 6m RIB with a fouled propeller off Woodstown Strand in Waterford. The RIB got into difficulty when its propeller became entangled in mussel cages within…
Howth and its cliff path are popular with walkers
#Howth - The Irish Coast Guard cliff rescue team at Howth sprang into action yesterday afternoon (Saturday 16 July) after reports that a man in his 30s had fallen from the cliff path on Howth Head in North Co Dublin.…
Naval ship LÉ Orla was part of the major exercise off Moville yesterday
The Irish Coast Guard co-ordinated a very successful Marine Search and Rescue demonstration yesterday, Saturday 16th July. As Afloat.ie reported previously, the exercise in Moville Co Donegal involved some of Ireland’s principal Search and Rescue resources. Participants included Donegal based…
Dunmore East RNLI assist the stricken yacht outside the harbour
#RNLI - Dunmore East RNLI's lifeboat crew launched in the early hours of yesterday morning (Saturday 16 July) to assist a 38ft yacht with four people on board. The sailing vessel, half a mile east of Dunmore East Harbour, had…
Donaghadee RNLI's all-weather lifeboats Saxon
#RNLI - Donaghadee RNLI's lifeboat crew saved a stricken yacht with one person onboard after it was left helpless in poor weather off the coast of Millisle, Co Down. Donaghadee lifeboat Saxon and her volunteer crew sped to the last…
Injured Teenager Rescued By UK Coastguard Helicopter in Anglesey
The UK Coastguard is praising a local coasteering group after they administered first aid and a splint to a teenage boy who injured his knee at Porth Dafarch, near Anglesey Wales. Yesterday (Thursday 14 July 2016) at around 12.15pm the…
Howth RNLI All weather lifeboat tows the yacht. See video below.
Howth RNLI launched at 1.15pm Thursday 14th July 2016 to reports of Sailing Yacht with 4 adults and 3 children aground just off Ireland Eye. The casualty vessel was quickly located and towed to safety. The request to launch came…
The RNLI's tonne of water at Spanish Arch in Galway city
#RespectTheWater - The RNLI has placed a tonne of water in Galway and Dun Laoghaire respectively for the summer months in a bid to show visitors and locals alike the power of the water, river and sea. The tonnes of…
Ballycotton Lifeboat Rescues Swimmer In Difficulty
#RNLI - Ballycotton RNLI was launched around 2.30pm yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 12 July) to aid a man who had got into difficulty while swimming in East Cork's Ballyandreen Bay and called for help. A member of the public heard the man's call…
Lough Swilly RNLI will be part of the IMSARC marine rescue demo this coming Saturday
#Rescue - Moville on the shores of Lough Foyle is set to host a major marine rescue demonstration this coming weekend, as Inishowen News reports. Naval Service vessel LÉ Orla will join Air Corps aircraft, the Irish Coast Guard, Lough…
The RNLI's Beach Builder Challenge uses the popular video game Minecraft to teach water safety
#WaterSafety - This summer the RNLI is launching the second year of the popular Beach Builder Challenge using the interactive video game Minecraft, which allows children to create and build virtual worlds. Available to play from Monday 1 August, the…
Wexford Lifeboat Brings Yacht To Safety In Third Callout This Week
#RNLI - A visiting yacht which ran aground on the way into Wexford Harbour was rescued by Wexford RNLI on Thursday afternoon (7 July) in what was the third callout for the volunteer crew this week. The previous evening, the…
 The large yacht had sustained engine failure a mile north east of Muck Island
Larne RNLI came to the aid of four people yesterday evening after their 16m yacht got into difficulty off the County Antrim coast. At approximately 6.30pm yesterday (Thursday 7 July), the volunteer crew was requested by Belfast Coastguard to launch…
New Way of Working for HM Coastguard Survey & Inspection Programme
Plans to make sure there is a full maritime survey and inspection team covering the whole UK, will see more remote working and a slight change to where some of the marine offices are based. The Maritime & Coastguard Agency…

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.