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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Fisherman Drowned 100 Metres From Shallows Says MCIB Report
#MCIB - Various factors - including poor buoyancy, suboptimal lifejackets and a fateful late decision to swim to shore - have been identified in the official report into the death of a fisherman off the Waterford coast earlier this year.…
Dangers Of Drinking At Sea Raised In Galway Lobsterman Death Report
#MCIB - Marine investigators have emphasised the dangers of drinking while at sea in the official report into the death of a lobster fisherman off Galway in April last year. The body of Gerard Folan was recovered from the waters…
Baltimore Lifeboat Pumps Out Yacht, Assists Yachtsman with Injury
#RNLI – Baltimore lifeboat were called on out on consecutive nights to provide emergency assistance. A 35ft yacht taking on water off Crookhaven called for assistance in the early hours of this morning Monday 15 July 2013. The call for…
RNLI Bangor Gives Medical Assistance to Injured Sailor in Belfast Lough
#RNLI - RNLI Bangor's lifeboat launched at 4pm on Friday (12 July) to assist with the medical evacuation of an unconscious sailor from a 26ft yacht. Within minutes of the rescue pagers being activated, volunteer crew had the lifeboat launched…
Tope Shark Rescued in Rush
#shark – Locals in Rush, County Dublin have rescued up to 30 Tope shark that were stranded in shallow water after the tide had gone out. The shark were transferred back to deeper water in the back of a jeep as…
Bundoran RNLI Deals With Two Callouts in One Mission
The volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat responded to two callouts in one mission last night (Saturday 13 July). Just after 9.50pm the crew were tasked by Malin Head Coast Guard to a kayaker reported to be in difficulty off…
Lough Derg Lifeboat Responds to Sinking Cruiser
#rnli – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched following a Mayday Relay from Valentia Coast Guard, to go the assistance of ten people, whose 35ft motor cruiser was sinking at Parker's Point, the deepest water on Lough Derg. At 16.15hrs on…
Lifeguards Come To Seán Bán's Rescue in Coastal Drama
#Rescue - RTÉ's veteran voice of the Gaeltacht was rescued by beach lifeguards while swimming at Spanish Point in Co Clare earlier this week. The Irish Independent reports that Seán Bán Breathnach was believed to be caught in a rip…
Elderly Woman Survives Fall From Europe's Highest Sea Cliff
#Rescue - An elderly woman was rescued on Thursday 11 July after slipping off the highest sea cliff in Europe. The Belfast Telegraph reports that 71-year-old Vera Flynn became separated from her sister while walking the cliff path at Slieve…
Search Ongoing for Owner of Fishing Rods in Portrush
#coastguard – A search is currently underway for the owner of two fishing rods found near rocks at the Blue Pool, Portrush.A member of the public called Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at just after 11am because they had spotted the…
Fifth Drowning This Week Puts Water Safety In Spotlight
#WaterSafety - Water safety chiefs have urged the public to take proper care after the fifth drowning of this week's heatwave. As The Irish Times reports, the body of a 17-year-old boy was recovered yesterday from a canal in Ardnacrusha,…
Lough Derg Assists Motorboat with Steering Failure
#rnli – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched following a request from Valentia Coast Guard to assist six people after their 38ft motor boat suffered steering failure in Dromineer Bay. At 14.50hrs on Friday afternoon, July 12, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough…
Roscommon Drowning Marks Fourth Tragedy In Two Days
#WaterSafety - RTÉ News reports that a teenager has drowned in Co Roscommon in the fourth such tragic incident during this week's heatwave. The teen was one of three swimmers who went missing in Annaghmore Lough near Strokestown yesterday evening.…
Youghal RNLI Involved in Response to Young Boy in Cork Drowning
#rnil – Youghal RNLI in county Cork launched this evening to search for a young boy who was reported to have got into difficulty at sea while swimming off Youghal beach. The volunteer crew was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat…
RNLI's New Chairman to Name First Shannon Class Lifeboat
#rnli – Combining his experience as a successful businessman and a long-serving volunteer, Charles Hunter-Pease today (11 July) takes the helm to start his role as Chairman of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Charles has been involved in the in…
Coastguard Gives Water Safety Advice For Current Warm Spell
#Coastguard - The Irish Coast Guard has advised members of the public to pay special attention to water safety this week. The warm, sunny weather with temperatures in the high 20s is forecast to last for the rest of the…

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.