This evening, the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard took part in a large scale coastal search exercise covering the area from Laytown, Co Meath right up to and including Donabate, Co Dublin. The exercise was based on the scenario of the team being tasked to search for a vessel at sea in their area of responsibility. Several separate search teams took part with the Skerries station acting as the local coordination base.
Weather conditions throughout the area were fair with good visibility.
The volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard were tasked at 17:57 this evening by the Irish Coast Guard’s rescue coordination centre (MRCC) to investigate reports of a vessel in difficulty near Rush. A report had been received that a vessel was aground at the sand bar at Rogerstown estuary. Another local vessel was on scene providing assistance. The Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to monitor the situation.
Weather conditions on scene were fair with good visibility and freshening force 5 Easterly winds.
Fortunately, after a short while the vessel was re-floated. No further action was required and the Skerries Coast Guard team were stood down by MRCC.
Incident # 17 of 2008
This evening, the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard undertook search and rescue training at the North Beach in Rush. This consisted of a scenario based exercise that included rescue of persons trapped on the beach, dealing with suspected shoreline pollution and coastal search techniques.
Weather conditions on scene were challenging with poor visibility and slight SW winds.
Skerries Coast Guard were tasked at 23:45 by the Irish Coast Guard’s rescue coordination centre (MRCC) to investigate reports of distress flares North of Skerries. MRCC had received several 999 calls from members of the public reporting flares deployed in the area. Skerries Coast Guard volunteers conducted a search of the coastline with nothing unusual to report. The team were subsequently stood down by MRCC.
Incident #16 of 2008
Skerries Coast Guard were tasked at 13:05 this afternoon by the Irish Coast Guard’s rescue coordination centre (MRCC) to respond to an incident at Skerries harbour. A crewman was injured in the engine room of a trawler berthed at the harbour. Paramedics and Skerries Fire Brigade also attended the incident. The casualty was initially treated at the scene and then evacuated from the trawler. He was taken by ambulance to hospital for further treatment.
Incident #15 of 2008
Skerries Coast Guard were tasked at 21:00 to assist in the search for a 22′ UK based sailing vessel. The Milford Haven branch of HM Coastguard had become concerned for the vessel, as the last contact they had was one week ago when the vessel was in Carlingford Lough. The skipper’s intention was to sail along the East coast of Ireland and then make a crossing of the Irish sea.
Many of the Coast Guard teams on the East coast of Ireland also assisted with this search.
The Skerries Coast Guard team searched all harbours and inlets within their area from Laytown to Malahide. Conditions on scene were difficult with poor visibility, heavy rain and freshening easterly winds. No vessels matching the description were found and the team were stood down by MRCC.
Incident #14 of 2008
The vessel was subsequently located safe and well, anchored near Howth. Read Howth Coast Guard’s report here.
