#LIFEBOAT – The people of Baltimore welcomed a new addition to their community today when the RNLI delivered a €3 million Tamar class to the west Cork village.  It is set to replace the Hilda Jarrett Tyne class lifeboat, which has served Baltimore since 1988. The new lifeboat left RNLI Headquarters in Poole last Saturday calling at a number of lifeboat stations along the way before undertaking the final leg of the journey this morning from Crosshaven to Baltimore Harbour.

Onboard the lifeboat was Baltimore RNLI crewmembers, Coxswain Keiron Cotter, mechanic Cathal Cottrell, Jerry Smith, Ronald Carthy and Patrick Collins along with RNLI Training Divisional Inspector Owen Medland and Deputy Divisional Engineer Michael Carmody. Ferry operators brought passengers out to escort the new lifeboat home and the harbour was full of local school children and residents.

The new lifeboat, which is named Alan Massey (ON 1302) was largely funded through a legacy from Mrs Dorothy May Massey from Watford in England, and has been named in memory of her late brother Alan, who it is understood had a love of the sea.

It was a proud day for Baltimore RNLI Coxswain Keiron Cotter who said, "We have been looking forward to this moment for a long time and we wish to acknowledge our volunteer lifeboat crew both past and present.  The arrival of a new lifeboat to a station is an occasion of great pride and excitement.  The Hilda Jarrett has served us well for over twenty years but as a Coxswain you look forward to receiving the newest lifeboat model with all the latest developments and technology onboard.  We will spend the next month or so training all the volunteer lifeboat crew on her before we say goodbye to our Tyne class lifeboat, which will be returned to the relief fleet in Poole.

New home: The new Baltimore lifeboat passes 'The Beacon' on it's arrival escorted by Baltimore inshore lifeboat. Photo: Provision

We have so many memories onboard that old lifeboat, one of the highlights being the Rambler rescue last August.  However along with the successful rescues there have also been tragedies and most recently we witnessed this with the search for the missing crewmen from the Tit Bonhomme in Glandore Harbour. Our thoughts are with their families today."

Crews celebrate the new lifeboat alongside in Baltimore harbour. Photo: Provision

The new Tamar class lifeboat is 16.3 metres in length with a maximum speed of 25 knots compared to the 14.3 metres of Baltimore RNLI's current Tyne class lifeboat which has a maximum speed of 18 knots.  The lifeboat is self-righting in the event of a capsize and is fitted with an integrated electronics systems and information management system, which allows the lifeboat crew to monitor, operate and control many of the boats systems from shock mitigating seats.

The Tamar also carries a Y boat (an inflatable daughter boat) which is housed under the aft deck and deployed from a hinged door in the transom.  The lifeboat has room for 44 survivors.

RNLI Training Divisional Inspector Owen Medland who made the journey with the lifeboat crew added, "I have been involved with this project for the last few years and today is a great day for everyone in Baltimore.  This lifeboat represents a significant investment in safety along the west cork coastline.  I wish the crew the very best and I know this lifeboat will go on to be a vessel that will save many lives and be a symbol of safety and protection for all those who venture out to sea."

#LIFEBOAT – Baltimore in West Cork welcomes its new lifeboat today when the RNLI delivers a new €3 million Tamar to the town. The boat named Alan Massey is the latest in life saving technology and it has been making a splash along the south coast over the past few days as it nears its new home.

Baltimore lifeboat shot to international prominence last August when it carried out the successful rescue of the Rambler 100 crew off the Fastnet rock. Its skipper Kieran Cotter won a special Afloat Sailor of the Month award for the rescue.

At full speed near Cork harbour. Photo: Bob Bateman

Baltimore's new Tamar is only the second such type of vessel operating in Ireland. The first was welcomed by President Mary MacAleese into Kilmore Quay last June.

The vessel RNLI 16-22 arrived in Kilmore Quay on Tuesday night and carried out exercises off Ballycotton arriving in Cork Harbour  yesterday evening. The brand new boat was escorted into harbour by Crosshaven ILB  lifeboat Miss Betty. Also there was RNLI Governor Peter Crowley's  Sparetime (P Crowley) and other craft from Royal Cork Yacht Club.

She berthed overnight at Royal Cork and is expected in Baltimore harbour later today.

The Crosshaven ILB alongside the new Tamar boat. Photo: Bob Bateman

The Tamar will replace the existing Tyne lifeboat Hilda Jarrett, which has served the station since 1988. The new lifeboat is expected to arrive into the harbour at 2.15pm after leaving RNLI Headquarters in Poole late last week and has members of Baltimore volunteer lifeboat crew onboard including well known Baltimore RNLI Coxswain Keiron Cotter.

The new lifeboat, which is named Alan Massey (ON 1302) was largely funded through a legacy from Mrs Dorothy May Massey from Watford in England, and has been named in memory of her late brother Alan.

Alongside last night in Crosshaven. Photo: Bob Bateman

The new Tamar class lifeboat is 16.3 metres in length with a maximum speed of 25 knots compared to the 14.3 metres of Baltimore RNLI's current Tyne class lifeboat which has a maximum speed of 18 knots. The lifeboat is self-righting and is fitted with an integrated electronics systems and information management system, which allows the lifeboat crew to monitor, operate and control many of the boats systems from shock mitigating seats.

The Tamar also carries a Y boat (an inflatable daughter boat) which is housed under the aft deck and deployed from a hinged door in the transom. The lifeboat has room for 44 survivors.

The new Tamar lifeboat is not expected to be put on service until March and the next month will see all volunteer lifeboat crew perfect their training onboard the new vessel. The Hilda Jarrett lifeboat will then be put into the relief fleet to be used as needed.

All are welcome to come and see the Alan Massey Tamar lifeboat arriving into the harbour on Wednesday afternoon. Local schoolchildren, RNLI lifeboat crews and fundraisers past and present along with local residents are expected to line the harbour.

#LIFEBOAT – The body of a man who had been in a small boat that capsized was recovered a mile offshore and close to Dundalk lighthouse yesterday.

It is understood the man had taken a small punt out from Soldiers Point to reach another boat at about 3.45pm but went missing after he capsized. There was nobody else on board and weather conditions were said to be calm.

An extensive search was launched involving various Coast Guard units, Clogher Head RNLI and Dundalk Sub Aqua Club.

The Irish Indepdent has more on the story here.

#LIFEBOAT – Bundoran RNLI lifeboat were tasked this evening (Saturday, 11 February) to a surfer who was said to be in difficulty at the main beach.

An telephone call was made to Malin Head Coast Guard by a concerned member of the public around 5.45pm who believed the surfer to be in trouble in the water. Bundoran lifeboat was immediately tasked and were on the scene within minutes of the initial call. The sea was calm and there was very little wind so conditions were favourable. Other members of the volunteer lifeboat crew were also dispatched to the beach.

The lifeboat crew commenced the search of the main beach area and also at Roguey Rocks when it was subsequently ascertained that the surfer had made their way to shore. The lifeboat was then stood down and returned to station.

Deputy Launching Authority with Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat Patrick McMorrow said afterwards 'the caller was absolutely right to call the Coast Guard if he believed someone to be in trouble in the water – the lifeboat is there to save lives at sea and we would rather be called out to keep minds at ease than have someone ignored in the water – Bundoran RNLI lifeboat is on call 24 hours a day all year round. As always, sea safety advice is available online at the charity's website www.rnli.ie '

#LIFEBOAT – The annual fundraising dinner in aid of Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat was held on Wednesday, 8 February, at The Grain Store, Ballymaloe, in East Cork, with special guest, Phil Coulter.

Tickets sold out well in advance of the event, with the proceeds going towards the RNLI's, Lifejackets for Lifesavers, appeal. The RNLI have designed innovative lifejackets in consultation with their lifeboat crew members and are due to replace all lifejackets in every lifeboat station in Ireland later this year. Events are being run to fund this and the event at The Grain Store, Ballymaloe, will be used to fund the replacement of lifejackets at Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat station.

In her speech, Ms. Fiona Flynn, Chairman of the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat fundraising committee, welcomed the guests to the event. She informed them that RNLI lifeboats responded to over 980 calls for assistance in 2011, rescuing over 900 persons. Ballycotton lifeboat launched 14 times in 2011, 7 of which were night time rescues. She explained that the volunteer crew at Ballycotton spent 170 hours at sea during these shouts and a further 560 hours on training exercises. When Ms. Flynn finished, Rory Allen then welcomed the special guest of the evening, Phil Coulter.

To check the guests' vocals the evening's entertainment was opened with a rousing rendition of Ireland's Call. Phil Coulter sang a few more songs before introducing an array of amazing entertainers. The first on stage was Christine Moran, a 13 year old from Aghada. She wowed the audience with her rendition of Danny Boy, accompanied on the piano by the maestro himself. Following a second song from Christine, Deirdre Casey from Shanagarry took to the stage. She was followed by dance duo, Keith & Futo. Aghada's answer to West Life took to the stage in the guise of Eddie & Paddy, accompanied by Rory Allen on guitar. In between their two songs, Paddy kept the audience entertained with his stories.

Michael Cahill and Shannon Burke showed their Irish dancing skills before Roisin Donohoe took to the stage with her harp. This 15 year old, Junior Certificate student from Kinsale, amazed the audience with her skill on the harp. Before she left the stage she set her harp aside to sing unaccompanied. Roisin's proud mother later told a guest she also plays the viola and had actually won a competition earlier that day. The Armani Acrobats rounded up that section of the entertainment.

Following the presentation of the Ballycotton Lifeboats book, Ballycotton Lifeboats, 150 Years of Gallantry, by Fiona Flynn to Phil Coulter a very enjoyable evening was finished up when all those who participated in the entertainment returned to the stage and joined in with the guests to sing Home from the Sea, under the direction and musical accompaniment of Phil Coulter.

An impromptu traditional session then commenced with a couple of guests observed dancing to the music. A very enjoyable evening was had by all and a general reluctance by some to end their night out.

#RESCUE – Lifeboat crew with Howth RNLI spent over ten hours on Saturday (4 February 2012) assisting a 17 metre fishing tralwer, with seven crew onboard, 36 miles north east of Howth, which was rapidly taking on water.

Howth RNLI were requested to launch their all weather lifeboat to the fishing vessel at 1.08 pm on Saturday afternoon and it would be nearly ten and a half hours later when they returned to the harbour with the casualty vessel under tow.

The Irish Coast Helicopter were also on scene to help the stricken vessel and a winchman delivered a salvage pump onboard to help the crew try and staunch the water.  With the lifeboat on scene the Coast Guard helcopter returned to base and the lifeboat crew worked quickly to establish a tow in difficult conditions.  Weather was force six with a strong southerly wind.

Keeping the casualty vessel under tow in bad conditions proved challenging and the rope parted a couple of times.  Sixteen miles north east of Howth the fishing crew reported that the water coming into the vessel was increasing and the tow was stopped.  A lifeboat crewmember was transferred onto the fishing trawler and a new salvage pump was put onboard.  The source of the leak was identified and action taken to stem the flow of water.  The lifeboat once again undertook the tow and eventually arrived into Howth harbour at 10.25pm.  All crew onboard the fishing vessel were unhurt.

Commenting on the callout Howth RNLI crewmember Dave Howard said, " This was a long callout for our all weather lifeboat crew.  Condtions were not great offshore and going from the lifeboat onto the casualty vessel in a two to three metre swell was very challenging.  However when a fishing vessel reports taking on water, it is vital to make sure that the crew are safe and that the tow does not part.  We are relieved that all crew got home safe."

#LIFEBOATS – While RNLI beach lifeguards take a break from life-saving on the North coast of Northern Ireland, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Tim Doran, originally from Armagh and living in Portstewart, along with his colleague Ross Macleod, RNLI Beach Safety Programme Manager, were busy teaching others (pictured above) how to save lives thousands of miles away in Cameroon.

The two lifeguards were part of a joint international project between the RNLI and the Swimming Teachers Association (STA).  Its aim was to reduce the loss of life by drowning in Cameroon.  This is a coastal country where eighty percent of the population cannot swim and drowning at sea and in lakes is a daily occurrence.

Tim Doran and Ross MacLeod, whose father hails from Holywood, County Down, along with Gary Seghers, Qualifications Development Manager at STA held a week long course which trained twenty local people from across Cameroon to become swimming and water safety instructors.  The course took place in the coastal town of Kribi and is the first of its kind ever run in the country.  It is one of the first projects of its kind to be run by RNLI lifeguards and the plan is to roll out more.

As an RNLI lifeguard supervisor in Northern Ireland Tim Doran is used to training recruits in life-saving so the challenge of bringing it to Cameroon was one he couldn't pass up.  "The RNLI is a charity that places a high value on training and safety with both its lifeguards and volunteer lifeboat crews.  It was amazing to be able to go to a country like Cameroon and to put the skills we have been taught into practice.  There is obviously a huge difference between the two countries but the basics of life-saving are the same no matter where you live.  We have taught a small group in Africa to save lives, who will in turn go on to train others how to swim and be safe in the water.  That is an incredible feeling."

As well as delivering the training, the RNLI have also donated some of their old equipment and first aid supplies to the group.  The RNLI and STA will keep in touch with the life-savers to see how they are getting on with their training. Tim and his RNLI lifeguard colleagues will be back on Northern Ireland beaches along the North coast from June.

#RESCUE - The Irish Times reports that the search has resumed for a fisherman who fell overboard from a trawler in the Irish Sea yesterday.

The crewman of the Kilkeel-registered fishing vessel Zenith was reported missing some nine miles (14.5km) off Clogherhead, Co Louth.

Yesterday afternoon the Irish Coast Guard and Clogherhead RNLI began an air and sea search and rescue effort, assisted by coastguard helicopter and other lifeboats and vessels in the area.

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.

#ANGLING - Strongs winds and heavy seas weren't enough to dampen the spirits of the anglers taking part in the Courtown Sea Anglers RNLI fundraising event last Sunday, the Gorey Guardian reports.

Top winner on the day in the shore angling competition at Kilgorman beach was James Ryan from New Ross, who hooked an impressive 24 fish - all of which went back in the water under catch-and-release rules.

Anglers from Galway, Belfast, Clare, Wicklow, Dublin, Waterford and across Wexford took part. It is hoped that more than €4,200 was raised to support the Courtown lifeboat.

#MCIB - The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has recommended a ministerial review of stability standards for fishing vessels following its report into the death of a crab fisherman off Co Cork in January last year.

Gerry Hegarty drowned after a wave struck the crab boat Carraig An Iasc, which was fully loaded with crab pots at the time, causing it to capsize and sending its two-man crew into the water.

Hegarty, who was not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) or other buoyancy aid, got into difficulty while attempting to swim ashore with his crewmate and skipper James Fitzgerald, who subsequently raised the alarm.

Lifeboats from Ballycotton and Crosshaven, as well as Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117, were tasked to the incident. Divers from Naval Service vessel LE Emer located the sunken crab boat but no body was found.

A coastguard search of the area continued over a number of days without success. Hegarty's body was eventually recovered on 17 February 2011 at Ringabella Strand in Co Cork.

The MCIB found it probable that the Carraig An Iasc encountered wind or wave action or a combination of both that caused the vessel to heel to an angle beyond which it was able to recover from its loaded condition. The vessel's Code of Practice Declaration of Compliance was valid until 15 July 2013.

The board noted that there have been "a number of incidents caused by overloading boats thus effecting stability", and recommended that the Minister for Transport reviews and revises the stability standards in the current Code of Practice to improve these standards.

It was also recommended that a safety notice be issued to all skippers and owners in the fishing fleet reminding them of their legal responsibility to ensure that all their crew wear PFDs or lifejackets while on deck.

The full report is available to download as a PDF from the MCIB website HERE.