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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Courtmacsherry RNLI’s new all-weather lifeboat arriving back into its home port this afternoon with the yacht safely alongside
Courtmacsherry RNLI were called out just before midnight on Monday (17 July) by Valentia Coast Guard to go to the immediate aid of a 29ft yacht which had suffered mast, power and mechanical difficulties some 69 miles south of Courtmacsherry…
Irish Coast Guard helicopter EI-ICU at the City of Derry Airport
An Irish Coast Guard helicopter which had to make an emergency landing earlier this year may have been affected by turbulence from the Sperrin mountains, an investigation has found. The report by the British Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) says…
File image of Courtown RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
Courtown RNLI in Co Wexford rescued three men on Sunday afternoon (16 July) after their RIB encountered engine problems and was drifting out to sea. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 5.32pm by the Irish…
Wexford RNLI’s inshore lifeboat approaching the scene on Saturday night 15 July
Wexford RNLI rescued two people on Saturday night (15 July) after their boat was seen drifting. The volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 11.53pm and were quickly on scene to assess the situation. With a fallen tide and the…
Youghal's RNLI inshore lifeboat
Youghal RNLI in East Cork was requested yesterday afternoon (Sunday, 16 July) at 4.18 pm following a report of a sailor in difficulty half a mile from Capel Island after their boat had broken down due to a gearbox malfunction.…
Lifeboat operations manager Beni McAllister with the inshore lifeboat crew and lifeguards on Portrush’s East Strand on Wednesday 12 July
On Wednesday (12 July) Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat crew carried out a joint simulation exercise with RNLI lifeguards on the East Strand in Portrush, on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast. The exercise was a simulation of a sea swimmer who had…
File image of Clifden RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
The volunteer crew of Clifden RNLI were called out on Tuesday (11 July) to assist a vessel with three anglers on board suffering mechanical failure at the mouth of Killary Harbour. Weather conditions at the time were very poor with…
Wicklow RNLI at the scene on Friday evening 14 July attempting to rescue the dog at cliffs below Wicklow Golf Club
Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats were launched at teatime on Friday evening (14 July) following reports of a dog in the water south of Wicklow harbour. The alarm was raised by gardaí in Wicklow who were concerned that the dog owners…
The Rosslare Harbour Severn lifeboat photographed from onboard the Kilmore QuayTamar lifeboat
Rosslare Harbour and Kilmore Quay RNLI, in a joint operation, came to the assistance of two people on board a yacht that was taking on water eight miles northeast of Rosslare Harbour on Thursday evening (13 July 2023) The Rosslare…
At the opening of the
One of two Galway students who survived a 15-hour ordeal overnight on paddleboards in stormy waters almost three years ago returned to the Aran islands for a unique exhibition opening yesterday. As The Irish Independent reports, Ellen Glynn (20) was…
The passage took the all-weather lifeboat, ‘Sam and Ada Moody’ southwest of Clare Island, arriving at Inishturk Island shortly before 8.30am
Achill Island RNLI responded to a request to assist a woman requiring medical evacuation from Inishturk this morning, Friday, 14 July. The request came from the Irish Coast Guard, who had also requested the assistance of Sligo based helicopter, Rescue…
Helvick Head RNLI’s inshore lifeboat taking the 30ft fishing boat under tow on Tuesday 11 July
Helvick Head RNLI came to the aid of a fisherman on Tuesday afternoon (11 July) after they got into difficulty and needed assistance three miles off Mine Head, southwest of Dungarvan in Co Waterford. At the request of the Irish…
Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat alongside the stricken boat with engine problems near Ballyhoran Beach on Thursday 13 July
Newcastle RNLI in Northern Ireland has this week come to the aid of four people in separate call-outs over a 24-hour period. The volunteers pagers first sounded at 4.10pm on Wednesday (12 July) when Belfast Coastguard requested the crew to…
Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore relief lifeboat approaches one of the casualty vessels
In the first of three separate rescues within a 24-hour period this week, Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore relief lifeboat launched on Monday (10 July) to assess a 27ft vessel with two people on board which had mechanical issues around a mile…
From left: Charlie Glynn, Tom Blunnie, Fintan Keating, Ian Lynch and Ger Keane with their Letters of Commendation from the RNLI for their part in the rescue of three people in June 2020
Five Kilrush RNLI volunteers have received meritorious awards from the RNLI for their part in a 2020 rescue that saved the lives of three people in storm-force conditions. Shannon Foynes Port Company were also recognised by the charity for their…
File image of Aran Islands RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat
The volunteer crew of Aran Islands RNLI were requested to launch their all-weather Severn class lifeboat at 6.05pm on Monday (10 July) to attend a person on Inis Mór who was experiencing a health issue and indeed of further medical…

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.