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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Search Scaled Down for Missing Crewman in Irish Sea
#RESCUE - BBC News reports that the search for a cargo ship crewman missing in the Irish Sea has been scaled down. The 22-year-old from Slovakia was reported missing yesterday morning from the Fehn Sirius, which was en route from…
Body Recovered Off Dublin Thought to Be Missing Fisherman
#RESCUE - The Evening Herald reports that a body recovered 14km off the coast of north Dublin on Sunday is believed to be that of a missing fisherman. The grisly find was made by the fishing vessel Rath Eilte in…
Marine Notice on Construction Work at Baltimore Lifeboat Station
#LIFEBOATS - The latest marine notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises of construction work being carried out on Baltimore Lifeboat Station from today 5 March. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the works are part of…
Donegal Skipper's Dramatic Alaska Rescue Story
#RESCUE - A Donegal-born skipper joined in the dramatic rescue of a fishing trawler crew in Alaska recently, the Donegal Democrat reports. Seamus Hayden Jr, who captains the fishing vessel Clyde, was berthed in Lazy Bay at the southern end…
Portrush Lifeboat Announce New Raft Race Sponsor
#LIFEBOATS – Portrush Raft Race committee have announced their sponsor for the 2012 Charity Raft Race - 'Victoria Square' in Belfast. The Raft Race is well established on the tourist calendar for the North Coast but this year it has…
Irish Tourist Drowns in Melbourne
#WATER SAFETY - A 27-year-old Irish tourist had died after drowning in Melbourne, Australia on Tuesday, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The tourist and a colleague, who have not yet been named, had reportedly entered the Yarra River in central…
Portaferry Kayakers Brought to Safety
#LIFEBOAT – Portaferry Lifeboat brought four kayakers to safety when they got into difficulty two miles south east of the entrance to Strangford Lough. The incident, which took place on Thursday (16 February), occurred when one of the kayakers had…
Safety Advice for Leisure Boaters in MCIB's Helvick Head Report
#MCIB - The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has called for better safety awareness among leisure boat users in its report into the deaths of two men off Helvick Head in Co Waterford in May 2010. John O'Brien and Pat…
Coastguard Takes Delivery of New Chopper
#COASTGUARD – The Irish Coast Guard took delivery of its new search and rescue helicopter at its Shannon base in late January. Production of the Sikorsky S-92 was completed last year under the rescue service's €500 million deal with CHC…
Baltimore Welcomes Home New Lifeboat
#LIFEBOAT – The people of Baltimore welcomed a new addition to their community today when the RNLI delivered a €3 million Tamar class to the west Cork village.  It is set to replace the Hilda Jarrett Tyne class lifeboat, which…
New €3m Lifeboat for Baltimore
#LIFEBOAT – Baltimore in West Cork welcomes its new lifeboat today when the RNLI delivers a new €3 million Tamar to the town. The boat named Alan Massey is the latest in life saving technology and it has been making…
Body of Man Recovered Near Dundalk Lighthouse
#LIFEBOAT – The body of a man who had been in a small boat that capsized was recovered a mile offshore and close to Dundalk lighthouse yesterday. It is understood the man had taken a small punt out from Soldiers…
Search for Bait Diggers Lost in Fog
#COASTGUARD – In two separate incidents last night Liverpool Coastguard sent resources to assist people after they became lost in fog whilst on the beach. The first call came at 8.00 pm from a man who had been bait digging…
Bundoran Lifeboat Call Out to Surfer in Difficulty
#LIFEBOAT – Bundoran RNLI lifeboat were tasked this evening (Saturday, 11 February) to a surfer who was said to be in difficulty at the main beach. An telephone call was made to Malin Head Coast Guard by a concerned member…
Phil Coulter Sings for Ballycotton RNLI
#LIFEBOAT – The annual fundraising dinner in aid of Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat was held on Wednesday, 8 February, at The Grain Store, Ballymaloe, in East Cork, with special guest, Phil Coulter. Tickets sold out well in advance of the event,…
Scottish Search and Rescue Base UK's Busiest in 2011
#RESCUE - The Royal Navy search and rescue unit at HMS Gannet was the busiest in the UK last year, STV News reports. The unit - based in Prestwick, near Glasgow - responded to nearly 300 call-outs and rescued 240…

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.