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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
A burst fire hose nozzle
The Department of Transport has been made aware of a Safety Recall Notice for AWG fire hose nozzles by the EU Commission’s Safety Gate rapid alert system. The affected nozzles are type HS 10, HS 12, HS 16 and HS…
Rosslare Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Volunteer Sean Cullen (18) holding photographs of his great-great grandfather James Wickham and great-grandfather Jack Wickham, both former lifeboat coxswain
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has launched its annual Christmas fundraising appeal, with a focus on the generations of families who have volunteered their time and commitment 24/7, 365 days a year, to ensure the charity’s lifesaving service has…
Father and son Frank and Jack Healy
Larne RNLI father-and-son duo Frank and Jack Healy plus father and daughter Martin and Sami Agnew have been reflecting on what it’s like to be on call together as both family and fellow crew members. On average, RNLI lifeboats launch…
The fishing port of Castletownbere in County Cork
A young fisherman has died in a deck accident off the south-west coast, bringing to two the number of fishermen who have lost their lives this week in Irish waters. The second fatality in four days occurred on board a…
The Dublin-based Coast Guard helicopter R116, along with Coast Guard units attached to Clogherhead, Greenore and Drogheda and the Clogherhead RNLI lifeboat participated in the search
The body of a young fisherman who had been reported missing after a boat sank off Co Louth earlier this week has been recovered. The young crewman had been one of two crew on board a razor clam boat when…
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board has recommended that the Minister for Justice should consider carrying out an audit of the crewing arrangements of any fishing vessel or vessels to ensure non-EEA crew are compliant with the rules governing work permits.…
Open water swimmer Catherine Mulcahy with her publication A Little Book of Happy Swimming Locations
A Little Book of Happy Swimming Locations is a new guide to some of the hidden gems and well-known spots ‘for taking a dip’ all around Ireland. Launched last month, this is the second book on the theme by open…
Drogheda Coast Guard recruiting volunteers
The Drogheda unit of the Irish Coast Guard is currently recruiting for new volunteers to join the Co Louth search and rescue team. Based at Horse Lane in Drogheda, the emergency service provides boat- and land-based search and rescue response…
Aran Islands RNLI coxswain Aonghus Ó hIarnáin with fiancée Treasa and baby Eibhlín
As the RNLI launches its annual Christmas fundraising appeal, with a focus on the generations of families who have volunteered their time and commitment to ensure the charity’s lifesaving service has continued for nearly 200 years, there will be a…
Alexandra Van Tuyll receiving her RNLI Certificate of Thanks from head of region Anna Classon
A long-standing volunteer fundraiser for Achill Island RNLI has been honoured by the charity’s chief executive for her generous support of the Co Mayo lifeboat station and its work in saving lives at sea. Alexandra Van Tuyll, who has been…
The new Bonmahon Coastguard station provides state-of-the-art facilities and will enhance activities undertaken by the unit in County Waterford. Facilities at the station include training rooms, operations rooms, offices, garage space, welfare facilities and vehicle parking
The Minister of State responsible for the Irish Coast Guard, Jack Chambers TD, officially opened the newly constructed Coast Guard station in Bonmahon, Co. Waterford today. Following a significant investment by the Department of Transport of €5.2m, the volunteers at…
Front cover detail from SOLAS Consolidated Edition 2020 published by the International Maritime Organization
The Department of Transport has issued a reminder regarding several circulars in relation to compliance with Chapter IV of the Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) as it pertains to radio communications and distress alerts. These circulars…
Galway City Council has taken a number of measures in preparation for the height of the storm between 1500 and 2000 hours today ( Sunday)
As the second of two winter storms this weekend sweeps in off the Atlantic, an orange warning has been issued for Connacht by Met Eireann. A yellow warning is in place for Storm Fergus for the rest of the island.…
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara
An Independent TD has called for a statutory inquiry into the death of Irish Coast Guard volunteer Caitríona Lucas off the Clare coast over seven years ago. Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara raised the issue in the Dáil following the…
Courtown RNLI’s lifeboat station lit up for the festive season
Courtown RNLI volunteers invite everyone in the community to their ‘Jingle Mingle’ event this Saturday 9 December. The fundraising committee is hosting the Christmas afternoon from 2pm-5pm on the North Pier in Courtown, Co Wexford. It’s an opportunity to gather…
Gary Hayes, who works as operations manager at Dun Laoghaire Marina, has been a volunteer at Dun Laoghaire lifeboat station for 21 years
Dun Laoghaire RNLI crew member Gary Hayes has been named the Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year for 2023. Hayes picked up the overall honour at the Volunteer Ireland Awards ceremony in Limerick on Saturday night (2 December) after he…

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.