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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
RNLI 'Shannon' Jet Boat is 50% Faster Than Other Lifeboats
#lifeboat – The first of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) newest class of lifeboat, the Shannon, goes on station in the UK this month. The Shannon is the first RNLI all-weather lifeboat to be powered by water jets instead…
Joint Garda Síochána & Coast Guard Appeal for Caution During weekend Stormy Weather
#orangealert – Members of the public have been urged to heed the advice of An Garda Síochána and the Coast Guard as Met Éireann issues an orange alert for Gale warning and a yellow alert for risk of localised flooding.…
Risky Seaside Frolics Underline Dangers Of Stormy Weather
#WaterSafety - Photographer Aidan Tarbett sent us this and other shots of a man with two young children playing in the sea spray and high winds at Bullock Harbour in Dalkey, South Dublin on Monday 3 February. In defiance of…
Smiles All Round For RNLI In SOS Day Fundraisers
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI was delighted to welcome members of the Wicklow Kilmantin Arts Group, who presented a cheque for €500 to the station last Friday (31 January). The money was raised during a recent art auction in Wicklow, and…
Coastguard Working Closer With HSE Says Chief
#Coastguard - The Irish Coast Guard enjoyed an eight-fold increase its work with the HSE last year, according to the service's chief. Chris Reynolds was speaking before a select sub-committee hearing at the Oireachtas last week, at which he explained…
Bundoran Lifeboat Station Damaged Hours After Major Fundraiser
Just hours after the annual Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat dinner dance ended on Friday night, a combination of high tide and heavy swell caused damage to Bundoran Lifeboat Station. Crew began to arrive at the lifeboat station at around 7.20am and…
Marine Notice: Well Site Surveys On Corrib Gas Field
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport advises that the survey vessel MV Fugro Searcher will commence well site survey work for Shell E&P Ireland Limited on the Corrib Gas Field, off the…
RNLI In Dispute With Coastguard Over Trawler Emergency
#RNLI - The Irish Independent says that the RNLI wants a meeting with the Irish Coast Guard over an incident off Dublin last weekend that it was not called to attend. According to reports, the coastguard sent its closest rescue…
Passengers Rescued After Wave Hits Bus in Pembrokeshire
#coast guard – Ten people have been rescued after the bus they were travelling on was hit by a large wave in Newgale in Wales. Milford Haven Coastguard was contacted just after 7pm this evening with reports that the bus…
Coast Guard Warning as Met Éireann Issues Orange Weather Alert
#weatherwarning – Southerly gales will develop overnight on all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish sea, gradually veering southwest to west later tonight and tomorrow and increasing gale to storm force. Frequent heavy showers, some thundery with sleet and…
Kilmore Quay Lifeboat Rescues Fishermen Off Saltee Islands
#RNLI - Kilmore Quay RNLI came to the rescue of two fishermen after their boat sank off the Saltee Islands in Co Wexford yesterday afternoon (Thursday 30 January). The volunteer crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat shortly after…
RNLI Brings More Than 1,800 To Safety Across Ireland In 2013
#RNLI - RNLI lifeboats in the Republic of Ireland launched 1,087 times in 2013 bringing 1,278 people to safety. The figures released by the charity today (Tuesday 28 January) are based on returns of service from all 44 lifeboat stations…
Howth Coast Guard Assists Medevac From Fishing Vessel
#Coastguard - Howth Coast Guard was among many emergency units responding yesterday afternoon (Sunday 26 January) to an incident on a fishing vessel in Dublin Bay where a crew member had fallen in a storage area and lost consciousness. Coastguard…
Coast Guard Issues Warning as Met Éireann Issues Orange Weather Alert
#coastguard – Members of the public have been urged to heed the advice of the Irish Coast Guard as Met Éireann has issued an orange weather warning for counties Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Kerry and Limerick. An orange…
Construction Works to Commence at Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre
#castletownbere –The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been advised that construction works will commence at Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre, Co. Cork on or around 30th January 2014, weather permitting. The works will involve the installation of new piles,…
Baltimore Lifeboat Assists Three On Trawler Off Cape Clear
#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI assisted three crew members on board a 20m fishing trawler which got into difficulty off West Cork on Monday night (20 January). The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat by the Irish…

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.