Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Bundoran RNLI’s lifeboat was called to an incident at Rossnowlagh Beach yesterday morning (Sunday 17 May) after a man reportedly collapsed near the water. Shore crew were also dispatched by road to offer assistance to the ambulance crew on the…
The Government has been warned of the risks of an increase in drownings in the next few weeks during an easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Water Safety Ireland chief executive John Leech has expressed concern about the risks if weather is…
State's Air Navigation Division Suffering Staff Shortages Two Years After Rescue 116 Crash, Review Finds
17th May 2020 Coastguard
Air navigation services run by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) have not been adequately resourced and were still suffering from staffing shortages for at least two years after the Rescue 116 helicopter crash, The Sunday Independent reports. A review for…
Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Launches to Assist Speedboat With Engine Failure
17th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats
Despite the Irish Coast Guard advisory asking members of the public not to go to sea for recreational purposes, Dun Laoghaire RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched on Saturday afternoon (May 16) following a request from the Coast Guard, to assist an 18ft…
The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) has revised its current advisory that members of the public should not go afloat for recreational purposes in the lead into the first phase (May 18th) of the Government ‘Roadmap for reopening society and business’.…
Mariners off the Mayo coast are advised to be on the lookout for two separate undersea operations from next week. From Sunday 17 May, America Europe Connect 2 will be installing a subsea fibre optic cable in Irish waters to…
HM Coastguard Asks Everyone to Take Extra Care in These Extraordinary Times
15th May 2020 Coastguard
With significant numbers of people expected to take to the water this weekend in England, HM Coastguard is asking everyone to take extra care in extraordinary times. Boating, swimming and other sea-based activities are now allowed once again in England…
Olympic sailing silver medalist Annalise Murphy joined four Dun Laoghaire-based 29er sailors and their coach in their bid to ‘virtual cycle’ around Ireland in aid of the RNLI. As Afloat reported earlier, Max Goodbody, Nathan van Steenberge, Sam Ledoux and…
Howth RNLI launched their inshore lifeboat last night (Tuesday 12th May) to reports of a person stranded in a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with engine trouble while fishing off Howth. The RNLI pagers sounded at 7.25 pm after a call…
Skerries RNLI launched in the early hours of yesterday morning (Saturday 9 May) to a call for help from three people cut off by the tide near Balbriggan in north Co Dublin. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson launched…
Two Separate Marine Investigations Warn of Risks of Boarding Fishing Vessels Under the Influence of Alcohol
9th May 2020 MCIB
The Minister for Transport has been urged to remind fishing crews of the dangers involved in boarding vessels under the influence of alcohol, following reports issued this week of two separate fatalities in ports. The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB)…
Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Involved in Multi-Agency Search off Sandymount Strand
8th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats
Volunteers from Dun Laoghaire Harbour's RNLI station were involved in a two-hour search operation off the coast of Sandymount Strand last night (7 May), after receiving reports that a person was thought to be seen cut off by the tide…
Donaghadee RNLI volunteers launched their all-weather lifeboat yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 6 May) after reports of three kayakers in difficulty off Cloughey in Co Down. Following Covid-19 protocols, the volunteers of lifeboat Saxon made full speed to the location. However, en…
Yesterday, Portaferry RNLI volunteer crew were requested to launch at 1225 to reports of a person in the water clinging to a small craft at Greyabbey Bay on Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland. Greyabbey is a small village about 11…
RNLI Plans Reduced Lifeguard Service This Summer due to Coronavirus Outbreak Challenges
6th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats
Despite the challenges of the coronavirus outbreak, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) hopes to provide a lifeguard service on around 30% of the beaches the charity usually covers this summer, if government guidance allows. The rollout of the normal…
Dun Laoghaire RNLI came to the aid of two people who got into difficulty on a kayak this morning. The volunteer lifeboat crew were paged at 8.21 am following an initial report from the Irish Coast Guard that two men…
