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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Youghal RNLI inshore lifeboat
Youghal RNLI responded to a distress call from local lifeguards on Wednesday, July 10, at 5:16 pm, regarding three paddleboarders in difficulty approximately 500m off Youghal front strand beach. The weather conditions were described as choppy with a strong north-westerly…
File image of Clifden RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat
Clifden RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew in western Connemara were tasked just after 11am on Sunday morning (7 July) by the Irish Coast Guard to assist a casualty on the island of Inishbofin. The Shannon class all-weather lifeboat St Christopher was…
File image of Bundoran RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
Bundoran RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers were called on Sunday afternoon (7 July) to aid a RIB in difficulty after suffering engine failure near Mullaghmore in Co Sligo. The 5.5-metre craft, with one person on board, was in danger of drifting close…
The first of six AW189 helicopters destined for search and rescue with the Irish Coast Guard
The first of six AW189 helicopters destined for search and rescue on the new Irish Coast Guard contract has flown off the Italian production line. Bristow Ireland says the new helicopter is now in its maintenance hangars, where “expert Bristow…
Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat
Aran Islands RNLI carried out a medical evacuation on Saturday after a cyclist fell. The volunteer crew had assembled at the lifeboat station for a routine training exercise at 12 noon on Saturday (6 July) when a cyclist fell off…
Crosshaven RNLI  Lifeboat Helmsman Aidan O'Connor
Helm Aidan O'Connor has reached a similar milestone in this year's 200th anniversary of the RNLI. Not 200 years, but his 200th 'shout' on the Crosshaven Lifeboat. He is the first to attain that particular honour at the Cork Harbour station.…
Kilmore Quay RNLI's all-weather Tamar class lifeboat assists two people aboard a yacht with engine failure
Kilmore Quay RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was launched Saturday afternoon (July 6) to assist two people aboard a 32-foot yacht with engine failure close to the Saltee Islands. The Coast Guard requested that the all-weather Tamar class lifeboat, Killarney, launch at 2.37…
File image of Skellig Michael and Little Skellig off the Kerry coast
RTÉ News reports that two people were rescued from a passenger boat that got into difficulty near the Skelligs on Sunday morning (7 July). It’s understood that the two were crew on the vessel that subsequently sank a few miles…
File image of Kinsale RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
Two days after Kinsale RNLI launched to the aid of two sailors after their 34ft yacht lost steering, the West Cork lifeboat rescued a lone sailor who was drifting off the Old Head of Kinsale on Monday (1 July). The volunteer…
The remains were transferred to Inishbofin Airfield by Coastguard helicopter
The body of a man has been recovered off the north shore at Cloonamore, Inishbofin in Co Galway. Malin Head Coast Guard was notified by radio at about 10.15 pm last night that a fisherman was overdue and presumed missing…
A photograph taken after the GRP boat at the centre of the MCIB Lacken Report was transported to the Garda secure location shows equipment onboard, including the main and auxiliary engines
Failure to wear lifejackets was one of five factors which contributed to an incident where a sea angler died off Lacken pier, Co Mayo, last year. The report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) notes that neither the boat…
The recreational craft that was the focus of Marine Casualty Investigation Board's Lacken incident report
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board has raised the question of whether recreational craft users should be required to have basic safety training, similar to driving test assessments. It has again commented on what it describes as "the repeated incidence of…
Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier en route to the 27ft cruiser at Curraghmore Point
Lough Derg RNLI were requested to launch on Monday afternoon (1 July) to assist a person on a 27ft cruiser that had suffered engine failure. The casualty vessel was reported to be at anchor at Curraghmore Point, a location north…
The IMRF, the world’s leading non-governmental organisation for the development and improvement of maritime search and rescue (SAR) capacity and operational effectiveness, celebrates its 100th anniversary since its founding in July 1924. The IMRF brings the world's maritime SAR organisations (130 members in over 50 countries), to share knowledge and improve maritime SAR coordination and response so more people in distress on the sea can be saved.
This month marks the centenary of the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF), the world’s leading non-governmental organisation for the development and improvement of maritime search and rescue (SAR) capacity and operational effectiveness. Founded as the International Lifeboat Federation at the…
Relief coxswain Sean Curtin pictured with Arranmore RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
The volunteer crew of Arranmore RNLI were asked to assist in a medical evacuation from the island by the Malin Head Coast Guard at 8am on Sunday (30 June). The first responders of the Arranmore ambulance delivered the patient to…
The seventh annual European Coast Guard event was co-organised with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex)
Multipurpose maritime operations in Europe were discussed by three partner EU agencies at an event hosted by the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) in Tenerife, Spain, last week. The seventh annual European Coast Guard event was co-organised with the European…

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.