Marine Notice # 19 of 2013 – Alerting of Emergency Response Authorities

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The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport have recently issued Marine Notice #19 of 2013 – Alerting of Emergency Response Authorities. This included the following guidance:

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport wishes to bring to the attention of all Shipowners, Fishing Vessel Owners, Shipmasters, Skippers, Fishermen, Yachtsmen and Seafarers a recent report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board, MCIB, into the sinking of the “MFV Tit Bonhomme”. The full report may be obtained from the website of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board, at www.mcib.ie.

The report made a number of safety recommendations, one of which is that attention should be drawn to the necessity for Skippers encountering situations where the safety of the vessel and its crew are potentially put at risk to alert the appropriate shore authorities advising them of the situation and what assistance the vessel may require.

In Ireland the competent national authority in this regard is the Irish Coast Guard. Alerting the Coast Guard should be done via one of its three Coordination Centres at Dublin, Malin Head or Valentia Island on marine VHF Channel 16 or working channels or Medium Frequency (MF).  Alternatively, if no other option is available, dial 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard should be notified in the first instance before contacting any local emergency response organisations.

Early alerting of Search and Rescue authorities

Masters and Skippers should not delay in notifying the Irish Coast Guard if a problem is, or may be, developing which could involve the need for assistance. This allows the Coast Guard to carry out preliminary and contingency planning that could make the critical difference if the situation worsens.

The full text of the Marine Notice is available from the Department’s website.

Skerries Coast Guard featured on RTE’s Nationwide – 24th April 2013

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This evening, RTE’s popular Nationwide featured the recent Skerries Community fundraising “Walk to Shenick” which took place on the 7th April. This walk was organised by local volunteers to raise funds for a memorial at Skerries harbour to those lost at sea.

The Nationwide programme showed the many hundreds of local peolpe who turned out to support the walk, completing the round trip to the island. The programme also featured members of the Skerries Coast Guard team who were on duty at the walk, including a brief interview with the team’s Officer in Charge Vanessa Gaffney. The Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 116, also provided some aerial footage for the programme.

RTE nationwide April 2013

The episode of Nationwide can be viewed for a limited time on RTE’s Player.

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary rescue team of the Irish Coast Guard.

Pollution report at Skerries harbour – 18th April 2013

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This morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate a report of a semi-submerged fishing vessel at Skerries harbour. Following the overnight NW gales and rough seas, the boat had become submerged under several metres of water.

The team checked the harbour area for any resulting pollution and thankfully none was found. The Dublin based Coast Guard helicopter made an aerial observation later that morning, again no pollution was reported.

Incident # 6 of 2013

Remember - if you spot someone in difficulty, even if you only think someone could be in diffuclty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.

Your call could save their life.

Photos from Community walk, Skerries 7th April 2013

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Shenick walk

Skerries Coast Guard were present this afternoon at the Community walk to Shenick Island, Skerries. This walk was organised by local volunteers to raise funds for a memorial to those lost at sea.
The Coast Guard helicopter was passing through the area and performed a flyover for the crowd. The event was very well supported by the local community with well over 1,000 people turning out despite the cold winds.

Photos of the event are available in our online photo gallery.

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary search & rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard

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Community walk to Shenick Island, Skerries – Sunday 7th April 2013

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The Skerries Coast Guard team will be turning out with the local community at 15:00 this Sunday 7th April for a community fundraising walk to Shenick Island. The walk is being organised by a local group of volunteers to raise funds for a community memorial to remember those lost at sea. The memorial is being modelled on an old Coast Guard “Breeches Buoy” training pole; these were once a common feature of the local coastline.

Walk details

The walk will begin at Skerries rugby club, on the Rush Road, at 15:00, involving a 2km round trip to Shenick Island and back. Warm clothing and waterproof footwear is strongly advised. For further details on the walk, visit their dedicated facebook page “Bring back the pole”.

Artist's impression of proposed memorial

Artist’s impression of proposed memorial

St Patrick’s Day Parade 2013

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This afternoon the Skerries Coast Guard team took part in the town’s St Patrick’s day parade. Hundreds of members of the public braved the cold and overcast weather to line the streets and show their support for the various groups, clubs, organisations etc that marched and danced their way along the parade route.

Parade 2013

Unfortunately, the Coast Guard helicopter could not complete its annual flyover of the parade. The helicopter was tasked in the early afternoon to rescue two persons in difficulty at Greystones.

More photos of the parade are available in our online photo gallery.