July 21st, 2010
This evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team conducted a joint training exercise with the crew of Skerries RNLI. The exercise centred on the scenario of a stretchered casualty requiring evacuation by lifeboat from a remote shoreline.
The Coast Guard team provided the lifeboat crew with the location lat & long coordinates by vhf radio. The lifeboat then made its way from the Skerries boathouse to the scene.
The Exercise took place at the idyllic Barnageera Bay, 2 miles North of Skerries harbour. Weather conditions on scene were very favourable.
This provided both teams with a useful opportunity to test out casualty assessment, care, and handover procedures.
Overall, the Skerries Coast Guard team found this to be an extremely worthwhile exercise. More photos are available in our photo gallery.
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Tags: rescue training, Skerries RNLI
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July 20th, 2010
At 20:40 this evening, the Coast Guard’s national rescue centre received several public reports of persons in difficulty on cliffs near Loughshinny harbour. The concerned members of the public had contacted the Coast Guard on 999 as the three male youths were on the cliffs shouting for help. Apparently the youths had climbed down a dangerous section of the cliff top and had become trapped on a small ledge.
With darkness approaching, the Coast Guard immediately scrambled its Sikorsky S61 rescue helicopter (Rescue 116) from its base at Dublin Airport. The Skerries Coast Guard crew were tasked to the scene, along with local Gardai. As a precautionary measure, the Coast Guard also requested the launch of the Skerries lifeboat.
Upon arriving at the scene, the Coast Guard helicopter swiftly rescued the three youths, winching each one in turn to the safety of the cliff top. Once there, the youths were received by the Skerries Coast Guard team and Gardai. Fortunately none of the youths were injured and were escorted from the scene shortly afterwards.
The Coast Guard would remind members of the public to exercise extreme caution when on or near cliff tops. In particular, the Loughshinny cliffs have a history of cliff falling accidents in recent years, regrettably many of them fatal.
Remember – if you spot someone in trouble on or near the coast, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.
Incident # 18 of 2010
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Tags: Callouts, cliff rescue, helicopter, Incident, loughshinny
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July 18th, 2010
This evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team were paged to investigate reports of an abandoned boat trailer at the South Strand, Skerries. Concerned members of the public had contacted the Coast Guard’s rescue centre to report that the trailer was now submerged by the incoming tide, near an area known locally as “the Brook”. It appeared that the trailer had been used to launch a small boat earlier in the day, that had failed to return.
The Skerries Coast Guard team arrived on scene and immediately began to investigate how the trailer had come to be on the beach. The team spoke to members of the public on scene and also conducted extensive door to door enquiries. The Skerries team also conducted an on the water search North of the harbour. The boat and its owner were quickly traced off the harbour. The Skerries Coast Guard team briefed the owner on the situation and requested the trailer be returned to a safe location after launching their boat.
Incident #17 of 2010
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July 18th, 2010
At 14:50 this afternoon, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate reports of a Jetski operating close to the North beach, Skerries. Concerned members of the public had contacted the Coast Guard rescue centre, as the jetski was travelling at high speed only metres out from the water’s edge on a popular beach. The Howth Coast Guard patrol boat, which was patrolling near Malahide, was also tasked to the scene.
After arriving on scene, the Skerries team observed the jetski which, as reported, was travelling in excess of the designated speed for the area. The team briefed the owner on the relevant regulations and bye-laws concerning the use of jetskis.
Incident # 16 of 2010
Tags: Jetski, north beach
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July 4th, 2010
After successfully responding to two incidents earlier today, the Skerries team were tasked to investigate reports of high speed Jetskis in the bathing area of the South Strand, Skerries. On arriving at the scene, the Skerries team observed two jetskis operating at high speed close to the shoreline. The jetskis appeared to be manoeuvring at high speed between swimmers in the water. The Skerries Coast Guard team, together with the beach lifeguards on duty, called the two jetski drivers to the shore. Both were briefed on the appropriate use of jetskis and were instructed to move to the designated area so as not to endanger the swimmers. Both drivers duly complied.
Skerries Coast Guard would remind members of the public to be familiar with the legal requirements for operating jetskis. In particular, the Fingal County Council bye-laws and the Merchant Shipping (Pleasure Craft) (Lifejackets and Operation) Regulations 2004.
Incident #15 of 2010
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Tags: Jetski, South strand Skerries
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July 4th, 2010
While returning from an incident in Loughshinney, the Skerries team were tasked to investigate reports of a large yacht aground on rocks near Skerries harbour. Upon arriving at the scene, the Skerries team observed the yacht already aground on large rocks at the back of Skerries harbour. The owner was at the scene and was planning to attempt to refloat the yacht later that night. The yacht appeared to have broken free from moorings in the harbour area and was pushed towards the rocks by the strong westerly winds. No further action was required and the Skerries team returned to base.
Incident #14 of 2010
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Tags: Grounding, Skerries harbour
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July 4th, 2010
The Skerries Coast Guard team were paged at 16:50 this evening to assist kayakers in difficulty near Loughshinny. Concerned members of the public had contacted the Coast Guard on 999 to report that several kayakers had been blown offshore by the strong westerly gales and were struggling to return. The Coast Guard also tasked Rescue 116 (the Coast Guard helicopter) and requested the launch of the Skerries lifeboat.
Fortunately, a local fishing boat managed to assist the kayakers in returning to shore. Local lifeguards on duty at the scene provided shoreline assistance, thankfully none of the kayakers required medical treatment.
Incident # 13 of 2010
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Tags: Callouts, Kayak, loughshinny
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June 20th, 2010
Earlier this year members of Skerries Coast Guard rescued an injured seal pup from the North beach in Skerries. Christened “Mighty”, the female seal pup was transferred to the care of the Irish Seal Sanctuary where she was rehabilitated to full health. This rehabilitation culminated in Mighty’s release back to the wilds of the Irish Sea on a sunny afternoon in Skerries.
Members of the Skerries Coast Guard who had rescued the seal all those weeks ago were on hand to assist with the release. Despite a slightly nervous and apprehensive start, Mighty soon made a dash for the water, much to the delight of the large crowd that had gathered to watch.
The seal sanctuary have marked the seal’s head with a small red dot of dye, so as to identify her over the coming months. This will disappear naturally when she next sheds her coat. They expect her to hang about the Skerries area for the next while until she becomes familiar with being in the sea.
More photos are available in our photo gallery!
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June 20th, 2010
An early morning tasking today for the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard with the pagers set off at 01:00 to investigate reports of a yacht adrift near Skerries harbour. A vigilant member of the public had spotted the yacht drifting across the bay and had contact the Coast Guard on 999 to request assistance. Fearing that there could have been persons on board and in danger, the Coast Guard tasked both Skerries Coast Guard and the Skerries lifeboat to the scene.
The large 36 foot white hulled yacht had somehow broken free from its moorings and assisted by the Force 5 Northeast winds, was almost grounded on the rocky shore of the North Beach. After close investigations by both Skerries Coast Guard shore team and the Skerries lifeboat, it was concluded that there were no persons on board. Unfortunately, given the on scene condition it was not possible to retrieve the yacht before it grounded on the beach.
The priority then shifted to ensuring that there was no pollution threat from the yacht (e.g. spill of onboard diesel or oil) and to notify the owner. The Skerries Coast Guard team remained on scene until 02:30.
Later that morning at low tide, the Coast Guard again inspected the yacht with the owner and noted extensive holing of the hull. Fortunately, the owner was able to carry out sufficient repairs to allow the yacht to be re floated at the next high tide and re secured at the harbour.
Incident # 12 of 2010
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June 3rd, 2010
At 18:00 this evening, the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard were tasked to investigate a report of distress flares North of Balbriggan harbour. The Coast Guard’s rescue coordination centre was contacted by a member of the public who had observed the flare in the Balbriggan skyline.
The Skerries Coast Guard team invesitaged and following extensive searches of the coastline, nothing further was noted. No further aciton was required and the team were stood down.
Incident # 10 of 2010
Later that night, at 23:10 the Skerries team were again tasked to investigate reports of multiple flares further North near Gormonstown. The Skerries team observed the flares and it was apparent that these were not marine distress flares. The Coast Guard contacted the army base at Gormonston and established that an army exercise was underway involving the use of illumination flares. No further action was required.
Incident # 11 of 2010
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