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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Helvick Lifeboat RNLB Robert Armstrong with crew Alan Kelly at the helm with Dónal Ó Faoláin, Terence Morrissey and Mike Tobin
The annual Mass in remembrance of all those lost at sea, and for their families will be celebrated in Helvick Lifeboat Station on Helvick Pier in Co.Waterford on Friday night of next week, May 13, by RNLI Station Chaplain Fr.…
Senator Grace O’Sullivan giving it welly for the RNLI in Dunmore East
#RNLI - Vital funds have been raised for the RNLI following the annual Dunmore East lifeboat 'Dash & Splash' and yellow welly throwing competition. The event, which took place at Councillor’s Strand in Dunmore East on Sunday 1 May, was…
Funds raised from the soapbox race will go towards the upkeep of the lifeboat and the ongoing training of the volunteer crew
#RNLI - The eagerly anticipated Bundoran RNLI Soapbox Race makes its return to Bundoran’s Astoria Road on Bank Holiday Sunday 5 June. Following last year’s cancellation of the event due to unfavourable weather conditions, the volunteer lifeboat crew are this…
Arklow RNLI's Ger Tigchlearr arrives to assist the stranded vintage vessel on May Day
#RNLI - Lifeboats from Arklow and Bangor were out on the water for separate callouts on May Day yesterday in what made for a busy weekend for the RNLI crews. In Arklow, RNLI lifeboat volunteers were alerted by pager around…
Portaferry Lifeboat Rescues Men From Yacht Stranded On Rocks
#RNLI - The volunteer lifeboat crew at Portaferry RNLI responded to a launch request from the coastguard yesterday morning (Saturday 30 April 2016) to assist two men on board a yacht stranded on rocks in Strangford Lough, Co Down. Portaferry's…
Rescue 115, the Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard Sikorsky S-92
The Irish Coast Guard has achieved the significant milestone of 10,000 Sikorsky S92 flight hours in its Irish Search-and-Rescue (SAR). The five new technology Sikorsky S92 aircraft have completed more than 3100 missions, operating from the bases in Sligo, Waterford,…
The track of one of the RNLI lifeboats in the course of the search for the missing trawler crew off the Pembrokeshire coast
The search resumed at 06:00 this morning for crew-members of a fishing-vessel which sank yesterday afternoon off St David's Head in Pembrokeshire, Wales. One man was pulled from the water last night and transferred to hospital but his condition is…
St David’s Head, Pembrokeshire where the trawler sank this afternoon
The UK Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public just before 14:30 today (28 April) to say they could see a fishing vessel in difficulty near the rocks at St David’s Head, Pembrokeshire in North Wales…
Recall Notice For Safetmade Hydrostatic Release Units
#Recall - The UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has issued a recall notice for certain models of Safetmade hydrostatic release units (HRUs). While these HRUs have been approved as having a service life of three years, investigations have shown…
Answer the RNLI’s Mayday Call & Help Save Lives at Sea
People across Ireland are being encouraged to help raise vital funds for the RNLI as part of the charity’s national annual fundraising event, Mayday. The RNLI’s Mayday campaign runs through to the May Day bank holiday next Monday 2 May,…
The Gobbins coastal path reopens this weekend after significant storm-damage repairs
#Coastguard - Northern Ireland coastguard teams have taken part in a major rescue exercise The Gobbins in Co Antrim ahead of the cliff path's reopening this May Day weekend, as the Belfast Telegraph reports. As many as 50 volunteers from…
The tractor to be rebuilt and Union Hall RNLI in action
A UK Agricultural Engineering lecturer is to travel to Union Hall, Cork this July to undertake a challenge to rebuild a Massey Ferguson tractor in 24-hours, with a little help from colleagues and friends. The tractor will then be raffled…
Portrush RNLI came to the aid of a man in need of emergency medical assistance on Saturday
Three volunteers from Portrush RNLI came to the aid of a man in need of emergency medical assistance on Saturday afternoon (23 April). Following a routine training exercise on the all-weather and inshore lifeboats, volunteer Karl O’Neill, who is also…
Ballyglass RNLI has rescued three fishermen off the Mayo coast this morning, following a 10 hour call out
Ballyglass RNLI has rescued three fishermen off the Mayo coast this morning, following a 10 hour call out. The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 7.45pm yesterday evening (Sunday 24 April) after a member of…
Sceilig Mhichíl. A rockfall has caused a breach to the Lighthouse Road wall, which forms the sole access to the monastic site from the island’s landing
Rockfalls on Sceilig Mhichíl, (also known as Skellig Michael or Great Skellig Island), Co. Kerry have caused a breach to the Lighthouse Road wall, which forms the sole access to the monastic site from the island’s landing. The damage is…
Fethard RNLI's D-class lifeboat in action
#RNLI - Fethard RNLI launched their inshore lifeboat yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 20 April) following concerns that a person may have been missing on the Hook Peninsula in Co Wexford. The alarm was raised when a man did not return from…

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.