Lagan Search and Rescue has a new Class 2 Lifeboat on station.

The independent charity is run by volunteers and based at Belfast Harbour Marina on the River Lagan in the City. It covers all types of search and rescue operations 24/7, including quayside response, swift water and flood rescue, medical response and rescue swimming. A Kayak Rescue Corps is being developed.

The lifeboat was built by Ribcraft and is more suited for the more challenging areas of water in and around rural communities than the larger Atlantic 21 Lifeboat. Capable of 32 knots and equipped with the latest in Search and Rescue technology, the new craft will be a valuable asset and will no doubt save many lives in the years ahead.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) released the funding which made the purchase possible early this year

And when a volunteer was refuelling the boat recently at the petrol station, a very generous gentleman kindly paid for the fuel. The gesture was much appreciated.

Among the many awards and honours given on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service bestowed on the voluntary independent rescue service, Lagan Search and Rescue.

The Award aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups which benefit their communities. The Award was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee, and recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation.

Lagan Search and Rescue is an independent lifeboat and acute water rescue service that serves the River Lagan, Belfast Harbour and Belfast Lough. The 999-emergency service is run and operated entirely by volunteers from Belfast Harbour Marina.

This year LSAR celebrates ten years serving the City of Belfast and local communities, responding to a wide range of incidents, including the rescue of persons in the water, persons reported missing, medical and casualty evacuations from commercial vessels and the recovery of stricken pleasure craft to incidents of flooding. This emergency response is free of cost 24/7, 365 days a year.

Lagan Search and Rescue

Ian Murdock, Chairman of the Trustees of the organisation, said, “We are truly honoured to receive such an award in recognition of all our volunteers' hard work and dedication, both past and present. Lagan Search and Rescue is currently made up of 35 serving volunteers, on call willing to respond at a moment’s notice any time of day or night and to have this commitment recognised makes us incredibly proud”. He continued, “For anyone to give up their free time to help others in need is truly admirable and to be recognised in such a way is very humbling. It is also a wonderful birthday surprise as we celebrate our 10th year”.

Joe O’Neill, CEO of Belfast Harbour, Patrons of Lagan Search and Rescue, said: “Lagan Search and Rescue provides a vital service not only to Belfast Harbour but to the City as a whole, and for that to be recognised in this way is fitting particularly during their 10th anniversary making it even more special. Safety is a priority for Belfast Harbour and working wth partners, such as LSAR to achieve this goal is vital to our success”.

Lagan Search and Rescue (LSR)  on Belfast Lough has announced that following a successful application to the Department of Agriculture Rural Community Rescue Scheme, the charity will be able to replace its ageing fleet of emergency response vehicles, update personal protective equipment and purchase a new Class 2 Lifeboat.

The investment of almost £264K will also strengthen the 999 response capability on the River Lagan, Belfast Harbour, Belfast Lough and the wider Northern Ireland community. The funding is part of a £2 million Covid scheme to help support vital search and rescue teams across Northern Ireland announced by DAERA Minister Edwin Poots. He told the Assembly that the funding will help the nine Northern Ireland Search and Rescue (NISAR) teams.

LSR provides a dedicated, independent lifeboat, working under the Rescue Boat Code of Practice and a Quayside Response Team working to the same professional standards as H.M. Coastguard, Rescue Swimmer Corps and Emergency Medical Response Team.

Noel Keenan, of LSAR's Operational Management Committee, says: “This vital funding from Minister Poots is a tremendous boost to the service we offer and will allow us to effectively respond to emergencies throughout Northern Ireland. It will also enable us to maintain an effective lifeboat response for all users of the River Lagan, Belfast Lough, and surrounding communities. Without such support, it would be hard for us to maintain our current service. We would like to thank Edwin Poots MLA and Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for their support”.

The Sunday Life recently highlighted the decision by Downtown Radio Star Neil McClelland to support Lagan Search & Rescue.

Lagan S&R is an independent Lifeboat covering the seaward River Lagan and Belfast Lough; It relies on the generosity and support of the community. They said, "To have Neal come onboard to help us to raise vital funds and promote water safety within the community is fantastic". The River Lagan flows through the City of Belfast to Belfast Lough and its environs have in the last few years been the site of much regeneration of the city.

LS&R's new fundraising campaign is to Build a Boathouse. The team acquired a new lifeboat a year ago with a grant from the Department for Transport. This new craft has now been in operation for almost a year and is a superb asset for city of Belfast and surrounding areas. It is capable of 42 knots and equipped with twin 150 HP outboards, the latest Search and Rescue technology including Thermal Imaging, Radar, Wireless Communications and Sonar.

Lagan Search and Rescue boats on the pontoon in Belfast Harbour Marina

In order to maximise the lifespan of this Lifeboat and the efficiency of rescues, they need to raise enough money to build a permanent floating boathouse in Belfast Harbour Marina.

Currently, the Lifeboats are in Belfast Harbour Marina but LS&R says they desperately need a Floating Boathouse in the same location, essentially a boathouse over the pontoon, so they are looking to raise enough money to do this. This facility would allow the team to keep all the kit, such as drysuits, helmets, water pumps etc. alongside the boat thus speeding up the response times significantly and protecting the boats from the elements when not in use.

For more information on this campaign please visit the dedicated website here

Belfast used to turn its back on the River Lagan. Not anymore writes Betty Armstrong. Within the city much development, both commercial and urban, has taken place around the river – a weir, Belfast Harbour Marina, riverside walks, a new footbridge, many cultural events and maritime gatherings and farther upstream, improved towpaths, rowing, kayaking and angling. All this has resulted in a huge increase in the number of people using the waterway and consequently, an increase in incidents.

Lagan Search and Rescue is an acute water rescue and independent lifeboat charity serving the city. It is a voluntary emergency service set up in 2011 responding to incidents in and around the river 24/7, under the direction and control of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

A dedicated and highly trained group of volunteers make up the Lifeboat crew, Quayside Responders, Rescue swimmers and Flood Response unit. Last year members put in over 11000 hours on behalf of the Charity.

So if you’re over 18 and physically fit, have time to dedicate to the charity and would like to be part of a dynamic team, you can express interest here

#Rescue - Lagan Search and Rescue's RIB is set to return to action this weekend after a crowdfunding campaign helped fund repairs, according to BelfastLive.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the rescue boat for the Belfast area was forced out of service after vandals pulled a hydraulic ram out of its steering system, causing damage that was "both labour intensive and costly".

But after a crowdfunding effort raised nearly £900 (€1,176) – including a single £500 (€653) contribution – the necessary repairs were made this week, with only stress tests remaining before the Atlantic 21 lifeboat can return to the water.

BelfastLive has more on the story HERE.

#Rescue - Lagan Search and Rescue's RIB has been forced out of service after its motor was vandalised, as BelfastLive reports.

Over the weekend team members found that a hydraulic ram had been pulled out of the steering system of the the Atlantic 21 lifeboat, which covers the Belfast area and was docked in a secure marina at the time.

What's more, with the vandals' additional damage to the boat, getting it ready to return to the water will be "both labour intensive and costly", according to a spokesperson for the rescue service.

BelfastLive has more on the story HERE.