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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Retired nurse Nora Flanagan is Arranmore RNLI’s lifeboat press officer
Arranmore RNLI volunteer Nora Flanagan has been recognised for 25 years of service to the charity that saves lives at sea. The retired nurse, who serves as the Donegal island station’s press officer, first got involved with the RNLI in…
Portaferry and Newcastle RNLI crews from Portaferry and Newcastle work with Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 to rescue the crew of the grounded fishing boat at Ardglass last October
The latest Marine Notice from Department of Transport highlights the importance of planning seagoing voyages, especially those involved in fishing. It follows a recommendation from the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) this summer in its report on the sinking of a…
Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat towing the yacht into harbour
Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat had a midweek launch to assist two sailors on a 14-metre yacht with engine failure off the Wicklow coast. The Shannon class lifeboat set off shortly after 1pm on Wednesday 9 September and located the yacht…
The Cahore Inshore Rescue Service lifeboat
A busy week of callouts for Co Wexford’s Cahore Inshore Rescue Service began on Tuesday (8 September) with the rescue of a father and son who got into difficulty on an inflatable toy off Cahore Pier. As the Irish Mirror…
Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spicer taking the cruiser under tow
A busy week for Lough Derg RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers continued on Tuesday night (8 September) after a 20ft cruiser suffered engine failure at the lough’s northeastern end. The lifeboat Jean Spicer launched just before 9.20pm and used all onboard electronic…
File image of a boat at Albert Lock on the Jamestown Canal
The Leitrim Observer reports on the rescue of four people from a Shannon cruiser that caught fire on Sunday 6 September. Firefighters were called to the indecent at noon on Sunday on the Jamestown Canal close to Albert Lock. Those…
The search and repair works will be conducted from the Edda Sun
Mariners in the vicinity of the Corrib Gas Field are advised of electrical fault-finding works at the field’s subsea infrastructure set for later this month. Works conducted from the Edda Sun (callsign LARF7) will begin on or around next Friday…
Lough Derg RNLI assisted four people on the 35-foot motor cruiser
At 8.25 pm this evening, Monday, September 7, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier to assist 4 people on a 35ft cruiser reported to be aground near Terryglass Bay. At 8.47 pm the lifeboat launched with…
Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spicer
Lough Derg RNLI volunteers were tasked to the aid of two people on a cruiser which engine failure near Mountshanon Harbour yesterday afternoon, Sunday 6 September. The inshore lifeboat Jean Spicer diverted from a training exercise just before 2pm and…
More Details Emerge Over Emergency Beacon Incident Off West Cork Last Month
The Irish Coast Guard has revealed further details over an incident involving the activation of an emergency positioning beacon off West Cork last month. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Baltimore RNLI was called out to search or the EPIRB which…
Discard Your Floating Inflatable Toys Now, Water Safety Ireland Insists
As the official bathing season draws to a close this month, Water Safety Ireland is calling on parents and families to dispose of their inflatable toys. Earlier this week, Afloat’s Tom MacSweeney interviewed Water Safety Ireland chief John Leech, who…
The yacht stranded in the Irish Sea yesterday evening
Howth RNLI launched to the rescue of a solo sailor whose yacht got into difficulty in the Irish Sea off Dublin yesterday evening, Thursday 3 September. Pagers sounded at 7.10pm and the all-weather lifeboat was launched, its crew locating the…
Skerries RNLI crew launch their inshore lifeboat in the rapidly fading light on Tuesday evening
Skerries RNLI volunteers responding to a reported flare sighting off Rush were tasked to the rescue of a cliff fall casualty in Balbriggan on a busy Tuesday night (1 September). Shortly before 8.30pm, the Skerries lifeboat crew were tasked to…
The well-travelled RV Ridley Thomas will conduct survey operations between Ireland and Iceland from next week
Survey works for a proposed new submarine communications cable between Ireland and Iceland will be conducted from next week. The hydrographic survey is due to take place from next Thursday 10 September and will be completed by early November. Works…
The lake boat involved in the incident.
An angler who drowned in Lough Mask in Co Mayo over a year ago was not wearing a lifejacket, the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has found. A report by the MCIB published yesterday (Tues, September 1) has been unable…
File image of the Irish Coast Guard
The Irish Coast Guard has proposed a series of changes to its VHF working channels later this year. The move follows amendments to transmitting frequencies in order to harmonise the VHF maritime mobile band internationally, which also require the coastguard…

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.