Archive for January, 2009

Missing person search and rescue – 22nd Jan 2009

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

 

This morning, the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard were tasked by the Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Rescue Coordination Cenre (MRCC) to assist Finglas Gardai in their search for a teenage male who had been reported missing in the Malahide area. The Irish Coast Guard launched an extensive search and rescue operation, covering the coastline from Howth to Rush.

The Skerries Coast Guard team began their coastline search at 08:25 in Portmarnock, sweeping Northwards to the coastal village of Rush. This covered a varied area including river estuaries, cliffs, rocky inlets, scrub land and beaches.

Meanwhile, our flank station, Howth Coast Guard, searched the area South of Portmarnock, taking in Howth and Sutton. Two helicopters were also tasked to the search area, the Coast Guard’s own Rescue 116 Sikorsky and the Gardai’s Eurocopter Air Support Unit.

At approximately 13:00, the casualty was sighted by the Garda helicopter at Balscadden Quarry in Howth. He was treated at the scene for suspected multiple fractures and hypothermia by Fire Brigade and ambulance personnel and then airlifted to hospital in the Coast Guard helicopter.

Incident #1 of 2009

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Night Search and Rescue Training

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

 

 

This evening, the Volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard took part in a night search and rescue exercise.

A search of Red Island was conducted using 2 teams. A casualty was located and was assessed,treated and evacuated by stretcher to an area suitable for extraction by helicopter.

This exercise included training in search techniques, first aid, radio communications and team work.

Weather conditions on the night were fair with good visibility in a moderate S.W. breeze

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Search for seismometer near Rush

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

Skerries Coast Guard were tasked recently to investigate public reports that some maritime equipment had washed ashore near Rush, North County Dublin. From the descriptions provided, it appears that it may have been an Ocean-Bottom Seismometer (“OBS”). 

These are a common geophysical instrument and are frequently used in the Irish sea to measure movements in the oceanic plates. Described as an aluminium sphere about 17″ in diameter, often bright orange or yellow in colour.  They generally they rest on the seabed, but sometimes can break free from their anchorings and drift ashore. They pose no danger to people or wildlife.

A search of the area was undertaken however no OBS was located. It appears that it had been several days since the initial sighting was made before it was reported to the Coast Guard. It is believed that the OBS may have drifted back out to sea.

If any members of the public should spot one of these OBS, or indeed any other unusual objects at sea or on the shoreline, they should call the Coast Guard on 112 or 999 or VHF radio channel 16. The Coast Guard will arrange for specialist removal and disposal of the equipment.

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Training with Coast Guard helicopter

Saturday, January 3rd, 2009

At dawn this morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team held their first training event of 2009, a joint rescue exercise with one of the Coast Guard’s Sikorsky helicopters, callsign EI-MES. The Skerries team selected and prepared the landing zone at Red Island, near to Skerries harbour.

Weather conditions were favourable, with good visibility and freshening Southerly winds. All of the Skerries Coast Guard team had an opportunity to experience a flight in the helicopter.

Further rescue training took place on St. Patrick’s island, one of the three uninhabited islands off the coast of Skerries.

Once again, our thanks to the Dublin Coast Guard helicopter crew for a fantastic joint training exercise.

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