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Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Cameron Dodges Issue of Bangor Closure
British Prime Minister has dismissed concerns over the potential loss of Northern Ireland's Coastguard centre. The Belfast Telegraph reports that when questioned on the future of the Bangor control centre by DUP MP Jim Shannon, David Cameron replied that he…
Llandudno Lifeboat Celebrates 150 Years
The 30-strong crew of Llandudno RNLI are celebrating the 150th anniversary of their branch's founding. "We are very proud to have reached this milestone," spokesman Alan Sharp told the Daily Post. Since 1861 the Llandudno lifeboat has saved 550 lives…
1,499 Lives Lost in Ten Year Tragic Tide of Drownings
Irish Water Safety is calling for people to be more aware of the dangers presented by water based activities and wants the general public to know that there are many reasons people drown which are not simply limited to warmer…
Coast Guard Statistics Show more than 3,500 people assisted, a 20% increase on 2009
Today, the Irish Coast Guard published details of incidents responded to in 2010, which show the following important trends: A total of 3,570 persons were assisted last year, a 20% increase on the 2009 figure. Total number of incidents responded to…
Portaferry RNLI Rescues Four from Fishing Vessel
The Portaferry RNLI lifeboat was involved in the rescue of four men from a fishing boat that ran aground off the coast last Monday evening, the Belfast Telegraph reports. The lifeboat aling with the Portaferry and Newcastle Coastguard and and…
Coast Guard Rescues Woman in Clontarf
A Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched to rescue a woman from the water close to Bull Bridge in Clontarf on Sunday night, The Irish Times reports. http://news.ie.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=155746525 Four Coast Guard search teams were deployed to the area after a passer-by…
Fishermen Rescued From Sinking Vessel off Ardglass
Four fishermen have been rescued last night from a 58 foot wooden Fishing Vessel 'Karen', after hitting rocks near the entrance to Ardglass Harbour and taking on water. The crew of the Fishing vessel had prepared their liferaft, as the…
Concern about an overdue small boat with two persons on board led to a call for Baltimore lifeboat to carry out a search and rescue operation in Dunmanus Bay, West Cork on December 30th. Two men in a small dinghy…
Crosshaven Lifeboat Called out Twice on Last Day of 2010
Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat finished 2010 with two services on the last day of the first decade, making 2010 the busiest year of its 10 year existence.  The Volunteer crew members were awoken by pagers just after 4am, and requested to launch…
Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat Remembers Christmas Eve Tragedy of 1895
A ceremony remembering 15 RNLI lifeboat crew volunteers that died on service in 1895 on Christmas Eve is to take place later today. The RNLI lifeboat station in Dun Laoghaire is holding it's traditional ceremony at midday at a memorial…
Coastguard Rescue Teams Assist NHS in Snow Affected Areas
Welsh Coastguard Rescue Teams along the Irish Sea coast are assisting the NHS in North Wales today as heavy snow affects the area. Cemaes Coastguard Rescue Team transported critical staff from Llanddeusant to Cefni Hospital, Llanerchymedd and Llangefni to Ysbyty…
'No Such Thing as Safe Ice' - Irish Water Safety Issues Warning
The Chairman of Irish Water Safety, Frank Nolan is warning the public about the danger of drowning as the current spell of bitter cold weather has resulted in frozen ice over canals, rivers and lakes. Children are especially at risk…
Castletownbere Lifeboat Transfers Injured Man from Bere Island to Bantry in Blizzard
Lifeboat crew with Castletownbere RNLI launched this afternoon (Tuesday 21 December 2010) at 3.30pm to transfer a man from Bere Island to Bantry in West Cork after he was injured in a fall.  The lifeboat crew had to step in…
Portrush Lifeboat Goes on Snow Patrol
A snow laden Portrush All weather Lifeboat 'The William Gordon Burr' makes a fine photographic subject during an exercise off the North Coast. Related Safety posts RNLI Lifeboats in Ireland Safety News Rescue News from RNLI Lifeboats in Ireland Coast…
NI Coastguard Centre Faces Scale Back, Possible Closure
The UK's shipping minister has announced proposals that would see a reduction in operational hours or even the closure of Northern Ireland's coastguard command centre. Earlier this week news emerged that the rescue command centre at Bangor was under threat…
World Leader in Offshore Simulation Partners with National Maritime College
SEFtec NMCI Offshore Ltd (SNO), a public / private joint venture between SEFtec Global Training Ltd and The National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), will be launched tomorrow at the National Maritime College, Co. Cork, by the Minister of Enterprise,…

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.