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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Coast Guard, RNLI Funding Escapes Cuts
#COASTGUARD – Funding for the Coast Guard and the RNLI will be protected at existing levels in 2012, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar confirmed today (Saturday). Speaking during a New Year's Eve visit to thank volunteers at…
Queen Recognises Coastguard in New Years Honours List
#NEWYEARSHONOURS – The UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has congratulated Mark Rodaway, Wendy Wood and Paul Kelly who were honoured in the Queen's New Year's Honours List. All received their awards for their contribution to Maritime Safety. Mark Rodaway,…
Cargo Ready for Transfer from 'Cracked' Ship
#SHIPPING – Plans to remove the cargo of 54,304 tonnes of Vacuum Gas Oil from the merchant vessel 'Genmar Companion' have now been finalised. The transfer will start on 31 December 2011 (weather permitting). The vessel has been sheltering off…
New Helicopter for Irish Coast Guard is Completed
#COASTGUARD - Sikorsky has completed production of a new S-92 helicopter for the Irish Coast Guard under the rescue service's €500 million deal with CHC Ireland. The US-based helicopter firm and CHC formalised the purchase on Wednesday (21 December) with…
Duo Rescued from Sinking Fishing Boat in Galway
#RESCUE - BreakingNews.ie reports that two men have been rescued from a sinking fishing boat in Galway Bay this afternoon. One of the two men on board the vessel alerted rescue services around 2pm after they began taking on water…
Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat to Mark Christmas Eve Tragedy
#LIFEBOAT – The crew of the RNLI lifeboat station at Dun Laoghaire will hold the traditional ceremony to remember the 15 volunteers that died on service in 1895 on Christmas Eve and for all lives lost at sea in the…
Santa Claus Delayed by Hoax Lifeboat Call
  #SANTA – The arrival of Santa Claus to Mullaghmore Pier by Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat on Sunday afternoon was delayed due to a hoax distress call received to Malin Head Coast Guard. As the four Bundoran Lifeboat crew were about…
Epilepsy, Lack of Lifejacket Big Factors in Death of Dublin Boatman - MCIB
#MCIB - The death by drowning of a South Dublin boatman may have been avoided had he been wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid, according to investigators. The report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) into the death of…
Coast Guard Issues Warning as Storms Forecast for this Week
#STORM – Members of the public have today been urged to heed the advice of the Irish Coast Guard as Met Eireann has forecast very windy or stormy conditions today with winds gusting 100 to 140km/hr, strongest along the North…
Go-Ahead for Killybegs Coastguard Station
#COASTGUARD - The Office of Public Works has given the go-ahead to a long-awaited new coastguard station for Killybegs, the Donegal Democrat reports. The multi-million-euro three-storey station - replacing the current 20-year-old building, which is deemed no longer suitable to…
Russian Ambassador Proposes Reward for Swanland Rescuers
#COASTGUARD - Russia's ambassador to Britain has proposed rewarding rescuers involved in the search for missing seamen in the Irish Sea last week following the sinking of the cargo ship Swanland. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the cargo vessel -…
Ballycotton Lifeboat Launched to Assist Ailing Fishing Vessel
#LIFEBOATS - Ballycotton's RNLI lifeboat was dispatched in poor conditions Wednesday evening to fishing boat taking on water some 20 miles south east of the Co Cork town, FishNewsEU.com reports. Assisted by the Waterford coastguard helicopter Rescue 117, the lifeboat…
Couple Rescued After Failed Attempt to Board Yacht
#RESCUE– A couple in their sixties were rescued from the water in the River Teifi, Cardigan today after their attempt to climb aboard their yacht ended with them both in the water. Milford Haven Coastguard received a call from a…
Update on Search for Swanland Crew
#SWANLAND–Eleven coastguard rescue teams and an RAF helicopter have completed a search of the north Wales coast this morning, following the loss of the cargo carrier 'Swanland' in the early hours of yesterday morning. Although some additional wreckage including a…
Search for Missing Seafarers Finishes for the Night
#RESCUE–The search for the five merchant seafarers who are missing ten miles west of the Lleyn peninsula, Gwynedd has finished for this evening and will be reassessed at first light.Four lifeboats, four helicopters, three coastguard rescue teams, two merchant vessels…
Search Continues for Six Seafarers Missing on the Irish Sea
#RESCUE–Holyhead Coastguard is currently coordinating the search for six merchant seafarers who are missing in gale force weather 10 miles west of the Lleyn peninsula, Gwynedd. The 81-metre cargo  carrier, 'Swanland'  broadcast a mayday message at  2.00 am this morning.…

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.