Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
File image of Donaghadee RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Macquarie
The volunteer lifeboat crew from Donaghadee RNLI were paged by HM Coastguard at 7.11am on Tuesday morning (6 August) following a report of a man in a small boat in the vicinity of the Copeland Islands who was unsure of…
Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat approaches the nine-metre vessel run aground on Upper Lough Erne
Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Douglas Euan & Kay Richards diverted from a training exercise on Saturday afternoon (3 August) to assess a nine-metre vessel with three people on board which reportedly ran grounded some two miles north-west of the Share…
Howth RNLI’s inshore lifeboat reaches two people on board an inflatable kayak that was being blown out to sea
As Howth RNLI’s volunteers gathered to mark a special moment to celebrate 200 years of the RNLI last Thursday (1 August), pagers sounded with a report of an inflatable kayak with two people aboard that was being blown offshore from…
Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat makes best speed to the 20ft cruiser adrift near the Corrakeen Islands on Sunday afternoon 4 August
Lough Derg RNLI was requested to launch on Sunday afternoon (4 August) to assist a lone skipper on a 20ft cruiser that had suffered engine failure in rough weather. The vessel was reported to be on the west shore of…
Valentia Coastguard Maritime Coordination Rescue Centre requested assistance for a rib, with thirteen persons aboard, that had experienced mechanical breakdown
Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat in West Cork was hosting its Open Day for the public beginning at 2.30 pm yesterday afternoon when the pagers went off at 2.25 pm! The lifeboat immediately launched to go to the assistance of a boat…
The RNLI lifeboat brings the motorboat back to Courtmacsherry Harbour pontoon
The Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat crew was called into action on Saturday at 3:50 p.m. to assist a 20-foot speedboat with three people on board that had got into difficulty off the Seven Heads coastline in West Cork. The All-Weather Shannon…
Wexford RNLI gather for the One Moment One Crew photo event on 1/8/24
Earlier this week, RNLI representatives around Ireland and the UK participated in a special photo moment — One Moment for One Crew — to create a photographic record of those involved with the lifesaving charity in this, its 200th anniversary…
File image of Newcastle RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
Newcastle RNLI’s volunteer crew launched the inshore lifeboat on Wednesday evening (31 July) after the coastguard received a call about a dog in distress in the water close to Murlough beach on Northern Ireland’s Co Down coast. The lifeboat was launched…
Paddle board safety volunteers at the Pickie to Pier swim
With the August Bank Holiday weekend upon us and as members of the public continue to enjoy Ireland’s waters and coastal walks, the Irish Coast Guard, RNLI and Water Safety Ireland are appealing for people to take care when they…
The sail training vessel being escorted back to Dunmore East
Aligning with a spell of good weather, it was a busy 24 hours for the volunteer lifeboat crew in Dunmore East earlier this week. The first, on Wednesday 31 July, was to assist a 10-metre sailing vessel with two people…
Lifeboat volunteers with the special RNLI scroll that is to be carried around Ireland to reinforce the pledge of the institution's founder
A special RNLI scroll is to be carried around Ireland to reinforce the institution's founder's pledge to "try and save everyone the lifeboat service can, without judgment." That was the vision of Sir William Hillary when he founded the RNLI in 1824. Printed on…
File image of Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat
Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat, the Leonard Kent, was launched to assist three people onboard a 28ft yacht which had suffered engine failure some 13 nautical miles east of Ardglass on Sunday (28 July). At around 8.35pm on Sunday evening, the…
File image of Fethard RNLI’s D-class inshore lifeboat
The volunteer lifeboat crew at Fethard RNLI were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 4.25pm on Friday evening (26 July) following a report that a woman was drifting on a paddle board in the direction of Bannow Bay. Friends…
Howth RNLI All-Weather lifeboat
The volunteer lifeboat crew of Howth RNLI launched their All-Weather lifeboat on Saturday 27th, and twice on Sunday 28th of July to assist sailors in difficulty. In all three incidents, each yacht had suffered engine failure east of Howth and…
Kinsale RNLI inshore lifeboat
Kinsale RNLI rescued a kayaker on Saturday afternoon stuck on the rocks off the eastern side of the outer harbour, known as Hangman’s Point, between the popular tourist spots of Kinsale and Oysterhaven. The Irish Coast Guard requested that the…
Water rescuers are expected to have a busy weekend as people take to water activities. Fire, road and water safety officials gathered at Banna Strand in County Kerry this morning to launch this year’s ‘Amber Thursday’ ahead of the August bank holiday weekend
Fire, road and water safety officials gathered at Banna Strand in County Kerry this morning to launch this year’s ‘Amber Thursday’ ahead of the August bank holiday weekend which is traditionally a busy time for such services. After another tragic…

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.