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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Lucky Escape for Dad & Daughter as Waves Crash Over Howth Pier
#rnli – A father and daughter had to be rescued early this morning by Howth RNLI off the East Pier, after they became stranded and were forced to take shelter from breaking waves. The two were out walking on the…
UK Lone Sailor Rescued 38 Miles off Cork Coast
#rnli – Mine Head Coast Guard received a call for assistance at 3:30am this morning from a lone sailor on passage from the UK.Ballycotton lifeboat launched at 3:45am and proceeded to the known position of the 6.5 metre vessel, which…
Portrush Boatowners look forward to Annual Boat Jumble
#boatjumble – Portrush Boatowners Association is eagerly looking forward to the annual boat jumble at Portrush Harbour on Saturday 30th March 2013. The boat jumble which is usually held in October was rescheduled to Easter Saturday, so that visitors to…
CoastGuard, Air Corps & Lifeboat in Combined Exercise on Dublin Bay
#rnli – A joint training exercise between the RNLI lifeboats at Dun Laoghaire, an Irish Air Corps helicopter from Baldonnel and the Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard Unit will take place this afternoon on Dublin Bay from 2.30pm for approximately two…
RNLI Lifeguards Providing Easter Beach Cover In Northern Ireland
#WaterSafety - RNLI lifeguards will provide Easter cover for the first time on three of the most popular family beaches in Northern Ireland. For the second year running, lifeguards will be patrolling Tyrella Beach in Co Down, and for the…
French Trawler Rescued By RNLI Lifeboat off Wicklow Head
#rnli – Wicklow RNLI has rescued four fishermen from a 26m French fishing trawler which got into difficulty in the early hours of this morning (Friday 22 March). The volunteer lifeboat crew responded rapidly and in severe weather conditions when…
Injured Portuguese Fisherman Rescued Off Pembrokeshire Coast
#coastguard – A Portuguese fisherman has been taken to hospital after suffering a head injury on board a fishing vessel approximately 30 nautical miles west of St. Ann's Head. Milford Haven Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) was contacted by the…
Kilrush RNLI Responds To 'Flare' Sightings Off West Coast
#RNLI - Kilrush RNLI launched twice on Tuesday 19 March to a reported flare or red smoke sighted off the coast on the River Shannon. On both launches at 12.15pm and later at 9.27pm, both crews quickly assembled and set…
RNLI Roundup: Arranmore Assists Crabbers, Courtown Volunteers Awarded
#RNLI - Arranmore RNLI was involved in an epic 12-hour rescue in difficult weather of five fishermen on board a crabber which got into difficulty on St Patrick’s Day. The station’s all-weather lifeboat was launched at 1.45pm to go to…
Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat Called to Mullaghmore Incident
#rnli – The Bundoran RNLI lifeboat was tasked to an incident this morning, Monday March 18th 2013, in Mullaghmore, County Sligo. A man in his 50s is understood to have been washed off rocks as he fished with friends off…
Marine Notice: Deepwater Well Drilling Off South-West Coast
#MarineNotice - Marine Notice No 11 of 2013 from the DTTAS advises all seafarers that a deepwater exploration well will be drilled off the south-west coast of Ireland from the end of March 2013. ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Ireland (Offshore)…
Arklow RNLI Tows Stricken Whelk Vessel To Harbour
#RNLI - Arklow RNLI assisted the crew of a whelk fishing vessel which got into difficulty yesterday (Thursday 14 March). The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat, the Ger Tigchlearr, shortly before 9am to go to the aid of a local fishing vessel.…
RNLI Say Thanks to Captain Pat Farnan, Retired Cork Harbour Master
#rnli – Recently retired Port of Cork Harbour Master, Captain Pat Farnan was thanked by Crosshaven RNLI at a special presentation at the lifeboat station on Wednesday night.Operations Manager, Alan Barton thanked Pat, who retired from the company after 33…
Three People May Drown Over St Patrick's Day Festival – Safety Near Water Appeal
#watersafety – On average three people drown every week in Ireland and with St. Patrick's Day 2013 festivities approaching, Irish Water Safety is appealing to all members of the public to ensure that they wear a well maintained and correctly…
Suspended Jail Sentence for NI Passenger Boat Owner
#The Sarah May III is a Princess 55 motor cruiser owned and operated by James Grahame Paul Stronge. The vessel is coded under the code of Practice for the Safety of Small commercial Vessels to carry not more than twelve…
Marine Notice: Clare Coast Hydrographic Survey
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport advises of a hydrographic and geophysical survey operation being presently undertaken off the Clare coast till Tuesday 19 March. The RV Celtic Voyager (Call sign EIQN)…

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.