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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
New Marine Notices on Small Vessel Safety
#MARINE WARNING - Two recent Marine Notices from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) highlight the safety recommendations made in reports by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) earlier this year into separate small vessel accidents, one of…
Clyde Coastguard Staff Hopes Dashed After U-Turn On Reprieve
#COASTGUARD - Staff at the Clyde coastguard in Scotland have been devastated to learn that their station is still slated for closure after a U-turn on assurances from the British prime minister. The Lennox Herald reports that David Cameron sent…
French Yacht Fouled on Lobster Pot is Rescued by Crosshaven Lifeboat
#rnil – A French yacht with a fouled propelller  on passage to Kinsale in foggy conditions has been towed safely to Crosshaven in Co. Cork by the RNLI. At 7.20pm last night, Valentia Coast Guard tasked Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat to…
Valentia and Malin Head Stations Now Both Under Threat
#COASTGUARD - Coastal communities in Kerry have joined those in Donegal protest against plans to close the Malin and Valentia coastguard stations. In last Friday's This Island Nation, Tom MacSweeney discussed the attempts by management at the Irish Coast Guard…
New 'Velvet Strand Race' in aid of the RNLI and The Mark Pollock Trust
# rnli – A new Velvet Strand Race is a charity sea race aimed at the novice and elite competitors with the intention of showcasing the coastal stretch between Malahide and Portmarnock. There will be three courses, Novice/Junior (5kms), Standard…
Fisherman Airlifted from French Trawler Off West Cork
#COASTGUARD - A crewman on a French trawler off West Cork has been airlifted to hospital by coastguard helicopter, as RTÉ News reports. The fisherman is understood to have suffered head injuries on the fishing vessel some 240km off the…
Ballycotton Lifeboat Assists Broken Down RIB
#rnli – The annual family fun day was held on Ballycotton pier to raise funds for Ballycotton lifeboat yesterday on bank holiday Sunday afternoon. At 12:30 the lifeboat station received a call from a rib with engine failure east of…
Shouts from a Cave Lead Baltimore Lifeboat to Kayakers
#lifeboat – At 00:30 this morning, after a search of many hours for two kayakers who had been reported missing from Rosscarbery, shouts were heard from a cave near Millcove. Baltimore Inshore Lifeboat Helm John Kearney investigated and found the…
Lough Derg Lifeboat Rescues Four from Grounded Cruiser
#lifeboat – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched tonight to assist 4 people whose cruiser was grounded and who abandoned their vessel to a small tender. On Friday evening August 3 at 17.25hrs, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch…
Capsized Lough Derg Speedboat Prompts Search for Possible Missing Occupants
#lifeboat – Last night at 21.19hrs, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was launched to investigate a vessel upturned in Youghal Bay, close to Garrykennedy. At 21.34hrs, the lifeboat launched with Helm Peter Clarke, Colin Knight and David Moore on board. Winds…
Shannon Helicopter Goes The Distance for Donegal Rescue
#COASTGUARD - The Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopter was dispatched to the Donegal coast on Friday night to rescue a young boy seriously injured in a farming accident. As the Clare Herald reports, Rescue 115 - which only entered…
Marine Notice: Recall of Mullion COMPACT 150N Lifejackets
#MARINE NOTICE - The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) has issued a Marine Notice (No 37 of 2012) advising of the recall of certain lifejackets manufactured by Mullion due to a potential problem with their inflation. In order…
Howth Coast Guard Rescues Faller from Cliff Path
#RESCUE - The Howth Coast Guard Cliff Rescue team and Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 were tasked yesterday evening (26 July) to the cliffs in Howth to assist a woman who fell from the cliff path at Whitewater Brook.…
Crosshaven Lifeboat Assists Youths Cut off by Tide
#rnli – Two young teenagers were rescued last night by the Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat after being cut off by the tide at Fort Camden. The two boys tried to make their way to safety across the rocks as the tide…
Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Three on Cruiser
#rnli – Lough Derg Lifeboat assisted 3 persons aboard a 27ft cruiser who got into difficulties after they believed they glanced off rocks. Whilst out on exercise on Thursday evening July 26th Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested by Valentia Coast Guard…
Bundoran Lifeboat Assists Drifting Yacht off Mullaghmore
#lifeboat – Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat was this morning (Monday 23rd July) called to assist a small 17ft yacht which had been drifting off Mullaghmore, County Sligo. The initial call came from Malin Head Coastguard around 8.50am who had received a…

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.