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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Report into Death of Crab Fisherman Prompts Call for Review of Stability Standards
#MCIB - The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has recommended a ministerial review of stability standards for fishing vessels following its report into the death of a crab fisherman off Co Cork in January last year. Gerry Hegarty drowned after…
Marine Notice: Hydrographic Survey in Irish Sea
#MARINE WARNING - The latest Marine Notice from the DTTAS advises all seafarers in the Irish Sea between north Dublin and north Wales to give a wide berth to the hydrographic and oceanographic survey operation in the area this week.…
Exclusion Zone Set Up Around Wreck of Fishing Vessel 'Tit Bonhomme'
#GLANDORE TRAWLER – In the interest of safety and to facilitate any search and recovery operations in the vicinity of the sunken vessel the F.V. TIT BONHOMME, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has set up an exclusion zone…
Search Resumes for Missing Fishermen in West Cork
#RESCUE - The search resumed this morning for five men missing after their fishing boat went down in rough seas in West Cork early yesterday, The Irish Times reports. One of the six-person crew of the Tit Bonhomme was rescued…
Glandore Search Continues for Five Missing Crew
#GLANDORE SEARCH – The Naval Vessel LE Niamh has joined up to 18 other vessels including lifeboats from Baltimore and Courtmacsherry and a large fleet of up to 18 fishing vessels in a bid to locate five men missing from…
Bundoran Lifeboat Launches for Surfer in First callout of 2012
#BUNDORAN RESCUE – On Saturday 14th January, following a distress call, Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat were tasked to assist a surfer in trouble at Tullan Strand, Bundoran. The surfer got into difficulty around 4pm after his surf board snapped during a…
Naval Divers Search for Missing Fishing Crew after Boat Sinks off Glandore
#RESCUE – Naval divers are searching a sunken Irish registered vessel for three missing people off Glandore harbour Co. Cork this morning. An operation is underway after a distress call was made at 6 am. Six people were on board…
Hearing, Speech Impaired Can Text '112' for Coastguard, Emergency Services
#COASTGUARD - The Irish Coast Guard is among the services that can be contacted through a new emergency text scheme for the deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired, The Irish Times reports. A pilot for the new www.112.ie service…
Efforts Continue to Locate Missing Fisherman on the Irish Sea
#MAN OVERBOARD – At 02.29 am, Holyhead coastguard received a call from a fishing vessel to report one of their crew missing, he had been last seen onboard 1.2 miles west of South Stack on the Irish Sea. A mayday…
Awards for RNLI Volunteers on Isle of Man
#RNLI - Peel Lifeboat Station is three times proud as a trio of its volunteers will receive awards for their services to the RNLI. IsleOfMan.com reports that the badge winners were announced at the RNLI headquarters in Poole as part…
Eight Searches at Cliffs of Moher in 2011 for Doolin Coastguard
#COASTGUARD - The Irish Coast Guard's Doolin unit conducted eight searches for missing people at the Cliffs of Moher in 2011, according to The Irish Times. Doolin officer Mattie Shannon told the paper that six bodies were recovered by the…
'Magic Lanterns' Blamed as Crosshaven Lifeboat Launches After Flare Sighting
#RNLI – Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat was tasked at 7.30pm  on 6 January to a report of a red distress flare being reported by the control tower at Cork airport. A compass bearing was given which put the incident in the…
Air Corps Patrol Assists in Rescue of Injured Fisherman
#RESCUE - The Irish Times reports that an Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft joined a search and rescue mission to evacuate a fisherman off the West Cork coast today. The Casa CN 235 - one of two operated by the…
New SAR Exhibition at Cornwall Maritime Museum
#SAR – Force 10 storm, zero visibility, 40ft waves, someone needs rescuing. It's time to go to work. Search and Rescue, the new blockbuster exhibition from National Maritime Museum Cornwall invites you to enter the world of the rescue services…
New Lifejackets for Irish Lifeboat Crews
#RNLI – The RNLI has launched a campaign which will see every lifeboat station in Ireland take delivery of new specially designed lifejackets this year.  The lifejackets have been commissioned by the RNLI for search and rescue work and have…
Gale Force Winds Prompt Weather Warning
#STORMWATCH – Strong winds make the headlines this morning as south-westerly winds reached up to 115kph at Malin head, Donergal during the night. Met Eireann has issued a weather and gale warning. It will be extremely windy or stormy in…

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.