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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Suspended Jail Sentence for NI Passenger Boat Owner
#The Sarah May III is a Princess 55 motor cruiser owned and operated by James Grahame Paul Stronge. The vessel is coded under the code of Practice for the Safety of Small commercial Vessels to carry not more than twelve…
Marine Notice: Clare Coast Hydrographic Survey
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport advises of a hydrographic and geophysical survey operation being presently undertaken off the Clare coast till Tuesday 19 March. The RV Celtic Voyager (Call sign EIQN)…
DCU Surf 'n' Sail Club Raise €800 for Howth RNLI
#rnli – Members of Dublin City University's (DCU) Surf 'n' Sail club recently presented a cheque for €823 to Howth RNLI. The students raised the money by organising a Christmas Charity Swim in aid of Howth RNLI. On 12 December…
Kilmore Quay RNLI Tends to Fishing Vessel in Epic Callout
#RNLI - The volunteer lifeboat crew at Kilmore Quay RNLI in Co Wexford responded to an 11-hour callout yesterday morning (Sunday 10 March) involving a 23-metre fishing vessel that had got into difficulty 40 miles south of the harbour. See…
New Sea Safety Training Guide for Ireland's Fishermen
#SafetyAtSea - Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) highlighted the importance of safety at sea in the Irish fishing industry at this year’s Irish Skipper Expo in Galway last weekend. Ireland's sea fisheries board also marked the occasion with the launch of…
Lifeboats Chief Visits Donaghadee, New Lifeboat for Arklow
#RNLI - Donaghadee lifeboat station was delighted yesterday (7 March) to welcome RNLI chief executive Paul Boissier, who was on a two-day visit to the Northern Ireland division. Operational and fund raising volunteers crowded into the station to meet Boissier,…
Arklow RNLI Aids Fishing Vessel Off Courtown
#RNLI - Arklow RNLI came to the assistance of three fishermen whose vessel got into difficulty off the Wexford coast yesterday (6 March). The volunteer lifeboat crew was alerted shortly before 1.30pm following a report that a fishing vessel was…
UK Coastguard Agency Head Meets Fishermen's Mission in NI
#Coastguard - The chief executive of the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) was in Northern Ireland yesterday (4 March) to discuss future collaboration with the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen. As Fishupdate.com reports, the charity - also known…
Challengers Gear Up For RNLI Station to Station
#RNLI - Two men are in training to complete the first RNLI Station to Station challenge on Saturday 6 April travelling from Bundoran Lifeboat Station to Arranmore Island Lifeboat Station in 10 hours – by foot, bicycle and kayak. Leaving…
Skerries RNLI Get New Lifeboat
#rnli – Skerries RNLI volunteer crew and station committee have this week received their new Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat.  The lifeboat was officially put on service last night (Thursday 28 February 2013). The north county Dublin lifeboat station is the…
Coastguard Chief Meets Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen
#coastguard – The Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Sir Alan Massey, is today (Friday 1 March) in Northern Ireland meeting with the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen. Sir Alan is meeting David Dickens, Chief Executive…
Schoolkids Raise €1,300 for Howth RNLI
#RNLI - Children from Scoil Oilibhéir Naofa in Kilcloon, Co Meath yesterday visited the Howth RNLI lifeboat station to present a cheque for €1,300 raised by pupils through a Christmas fair and a 'Chore Tuesday' at their school. Project teams…
Marine Notice: Offshore Trenching Works At Corrib Gas Field
#MarineNotice - Marine Notice No 9 of 2013 advise of preparatory works for the installation of an offshore umbilical at the Corrib Gas Field development off Co Mayo. Works are set to commence in early March along the route of…
Kilrush RNLI Rescues Five From Stranded Boat
#RNLI - Kilrush RNLI launched on Thursday afternoon (21 February) after pagers were set off by Valentia Coast Guard to the Foynes area, where it was reported that a boat had lost engine power with five people on board. Within…
Marine Notice: Hydrographic Survey in Galway Bay
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the DTTAS advises all seafarers off the West of Ireland that a hydrographic and geophysical survey operation will be carried out in Galway Bay from today Friday 22 February till Tuesday 26 February…
Skerries RNLI Aids Stranded Powerboat
#RNLI - Skerries RNLI went to the assistance of two people whose powerboat got into difficulty off the Balbriggan coast in north Co Dublin yesterday. Shortly after 6pm last night (Tuesday 19 February) the station’s volunteer lifeboat crew was requested…

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.