Northern Ireland Sailing & Boating News
Two sailors were rescued in separate overnight incidents off St John’s Point after getting into difficulty in challenging conditions. Newcastle and Kilkeel RNLI launched shortly before midnight on Friday after Belfast Coastguard received reports of a yacht aground and taking…
Kilkeel RNLI has entered a new chapter in its lifesaving history with the arrival of a Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat. The new vessel, Bobby Cameron, was officially declared a search-and-rescue asset by Belfast Coastguard at 7pm on Friday, 5 June. Within…
Bangor RNLI, on Belfast Lough in Northern Ireland, has congratulated five of its volunteers who successful passed assessments at the station this week following a period of dedicated training in their station roles. Tom Bell passed out as a launch…
A body has been recovered in the search for a person missing after a fishing boat sank in Carlingford Lough on Tuesday afternoon (2 June), as BreakingNews.ie reports. A major multi-agency search and rescue operation was launched after the alarm…
Donaghadee RNLI volunteers rescued a man from the water in Donaghadee Harbour on Tuesday afternoon after reports he was struggling to stay afloat. The volunteer crew was paged at 3.46 pm on 2 June by HM Coastguard following a call…
Local Councillor Wants Support for Carlingford Ferry Operator After 2026 Services Cancelled
1st June 2026 Ferry
A Northern Ireland councillor has called for local authority support to help reinstate the Carlingford Lough Ferry service that was abruptly postponed last week. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the seasonal cross-border car ferry’s operator announced in late May that…
Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was requested to launch by HM Coastguard on Wednesday (27 May) at 12.28pm to reports of two kayakers in difficulty just off Ramore Head. The lifeboat Ken Blair was launched at 12.40pm and arrived on scene…
Pagers sounded for Portaferry RNLI’s volunteer crew at 10.10am on NI Bank Holiday Monday (25 May) at the request of Belfast Coastguard after reports of a swimmer carried offshore by the tide close to Killyleagh, on the western shore of…
Busy NI Bank Holiday Weekend for Carrybridge Lifeboat With Four Calls in 48 Hours
26th May 2026 RNLI Lifeboats
Carrybridge RNLI began a busy Northern Ireland spring bank holiday weekend on Saturday afternoon (23 May) when the inshore lifeboat Douglas Euan & Kay Richards was requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard to assess a 10-metre vessel with one person…
Larne RNLI launched on Sunday afternoon following reports of a person injured on rocks at Drains Bay. The volunteer crew launched the inshore lifeboat Terry at 2.03 pm at the request of HM Coastguard. Helm Willie Evans and crew members…
Larne RNLI volunteers launched this afternoon after reports of a disabled RIB with two people onboard off the Co Antrim coast. The all-weather lifeboat Machiko Nancy launched at 2.48pm on Sunday following a request from HM Coastguard after the crew…
Red Bay RNLI launched to the aid of a lone sailor in challenging weather conditions on Monday evening (18 May) after their 10m yacht got into difficulty off the Scottish coast. The volunteer crew launched the all-weather lifeboat at 6.05pm…
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has launched a new qualification pathway for deck officers working on large yachts. The new Yacht Unlimited Certificate of Competency (CoC) allows holders to serve as Chief Mate or Master on yachts of any…
Enniskillen RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Ted Dawber was launched just after 3.30pm on Friday afternoon (15 May) at the request of Belfast Coastguard, following a report that a barge had run around at marker 55K at Rossigh Bay. Conditions were cloudy…
Carrybridge RNLI in Northern Ireland has welcomed the success of its volunteer crew member Douglas McFarland, who has completed his Tier 2 pass-out. The pass-out was conducted by coastal lifeboat trainer Sean Ginnelly, who had travelled up from Achill Island…
The Loughs Agency has issued a statement regarding a suspected pollution incident last week on the River Derg in Northern Ireland. The agency says its fishery officers were deployed to the scene in Co Tyrone once notified on Wednesday 6…
