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Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Marine Notice No. 31 of 2013 - Live Surface to Air Firing Practices - Gormanston Air Defence Range
Notice to all Shipowners, Fishing Vessel Owners, Agents, Shipmasters, Skippers, Fishermen, Yachtsmen and SeafarersLive Surface to Air Firing Practices –Gormanston Air Defence Range, Co. Meath. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been advised by the Defence Forces that…
Marine Notice No. 33 of 2013 - Approved Training Course Providers Under STCW 78/95
Marine Notice No. 33 of 2013This Marine Notice Supersedes Marine Notice No. 50 of 2008 Notice to all Shipowners, Fishing Vessel Owners, Agents, Shipmasters, Skippers, Fishermen, Yachtsmen and SeafarersApproved Training Course Providers under STCW 78/95 The Department of Transport Tourism…
Safety Management Systems on Passenger Ships, Marine Notice No. 34 of 2013
Marine Notice No. 34 of 2013 For the attention of all Masters, Operators and Owners Safety Management Systems – Passenger Ships The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport wishes to bring to the attention of all passenger ship operators a…
Six RNLI Lifeboats Take Part in Major Maritime Exercise off Northern Ireland Coast
#rnli – Three RNLI lifeboats from Northern Ireland and three from the Isle of Man took part in a major maritime exercise fifteen miles off the coast of Northern Ireland on Saturday (3 August 2013) to test the effectiveness and…
Howth RNLI Lifeboat Busy With Three Callouts in 24 hours
#rnli – The volunteer lifeboat crew with Howth RNLI were kept busy this weekend when they responded to three callouts in 24 hours and helped bring 11 people to safety. The first callout came at 2.46pm yesterday (Saturday 10 August)…
Three Anglers Rescued After Boat Capsizes off Waterford coast
#rnli – Lifeboat crew with Tramore RNLI responded to a callout this afternoon at 1.43pm when a six metre half decker boat capsized with four men onboard halfway between Brownstown Head and Rhinashark off the Waterford coast. One man managed…
Live Air to Ground Firing Practices, Gormanston Air Defence Range, Co. Meath.
Marine Notice No. 41 of 2013Notice to all Shipowners, Fishing Vessel Owners, Agents, Shipmasters, Skippers, Fishermen, Yachtsmen and SeafarersAir to Ground Live Fire Practices, Danger Area D1,Gormanston Air Defence Range, Co. Meath. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has…
Skerries RNLI Atlantic 85 Lifeboat to be Named
#rnli – A new Atlantic 85 lifeboat for Skerries RNLI is to be officially named Louis Simson during a ceremony at the lifeboat station in the north county Dublin coastal town at 2pm on Saturday 7 September. The lifeboat which…
Courtmacsherry RNLI Volunteer Assists Call-Out Off English Coast
#RNLI - A volunteer crew member from Courtmacsherry RNLI found himself involved in a lifeboat call out miles from home this week when he went to the assistance of yacht involved in a collision off Cumbria yesterday (29 August). Barrow RNLI launched…
Wicklow RNLI Helps Charity Reach Almost 1.5 Million People via Social Media
#rnli – Wicklow RNLI have become the first Irish lifeboat station to have a rescue featured in the charity's #SaveWave campaign. Some of this summer's most dramatic rescue stories featuring volunteer lifeboat crews have been shared with nearly one and…
Dedication of Skerries Atlantic RNLI Lifeboat
#rnli – A new Atlantic 85 lifeboat for Skerries RNLI is to be officially named Louis Simson during a ceremony at the lifeboat station in the north county Dublin coastal town at 2pm tomorrow, Saturday 7 September. The lifeboat which…
Rock Placement at Corrib Gas Field Development – Marine Notice No. 44
Marine Notice No. 44 of 2013Amended 11/09/2013Notice to all Shipowners, Fishing Vessel Owners, Agents, Shipmasters, Skippers, Fishermen, Yachtsmen and SeafarersCorrib Gas Field Development, Broad Haven Bay,North West County Mayo, Ireland The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been advised…
Air Dispersant Training Over the Irish Sea – Marine Notice No. 45 of 2013
Marine Notice No. 45 of 2013 Notice to all Shipowners, Fishing Vessel Owners, Agents, Shipmasters, Skippers, Fishermen, Yachtsmen and Seafarers Air Dispersant Training over the Irish Sea The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been advised that Air Contractors…
Marine Notice: Well Inspections and Maintenance on the Corrib Gas Field
#MarineNotice - The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been advised that the survey vessel the Normand Subsea (Call Sign: 2CQP8) will commence well works on the Corrib Gas Field, off the coast of Co Mayo, in early October…
RNLI Achill Island's 17 hour Callout to Fishing Vessel in Trouble off Mayo Coast
#rnli – Lifeboat crew with Achill Island RNLI returned home in the early hours of this morning (Friday 20 September) after a marathon callout to a fishing vessel 54 miles west of Achill Island off the Mayo coast. The lifeboat…
RNLI Rescue Figures Show Massive Increase in Irish Lifeboat Summer Launches
#RNLI – RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews in Ireland were kept busy this summer, with the charity's lifeboats launching 571 times during the months of June, July and August. The figure represents an increase of 43 per cent on the previous…

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.