Category Archives: water safety

Dye trace and drogue tracking surveys – North Dublin

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As part of the Greater Dublin Drainage Project (GDD), Fingal County Council are to undertake Dye trace and Drogue tracking surveys in the Irish Sea off the coast of North Dublin. The Dye and Drogues will be released in the northern and southern outfall study areas. These areas have been identified as potential outfall areas for the GDD project. The northern outfall study area is located to the north of Loughshinny harbour. The southern outfall area is near Portmarnock.

The works commenced the week beginning 23rdJuly and will be carried out over a 2 week period subject to suitable weather conditions. Whilst both Dye and Drogues will be released within the outfall study areas, they will not remain confined to these areas and are likely to be circulated further afield due to tides and currents.

During this time a red fluorescent dye may be visible in the Irish Sea in the general vicinity of the outfall areas. Drogues will be fitted with radar reflectors and flashing beacons to aid avoidance by other navigators and will be recovered following each track. The Coast Guard will be notified in advance of any Dye and Drogue release.

This dye is non pollutant and does not pose any harm to the environment. The public should not be alarmed by its presence.

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

Skerries Coast Guard warns of quarry swimming dangers

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Skerries Coast Guard is warning the public of the dangers of swimming in disused quarries. The key trend arising from accidents in recent years is that swimming is by far and away the predominant cause of fatalities in disused quarries in Ireland, with young men in their teens and early twenties accounting for the largest proportion of casualties. From examining these past accidents, swimmers appear to get into difficulty very, very quickly and disappear under the water’s surface in seconds. Too quick for their nearby friends to react and save them.

As the summer gets underway, Skerries Coast Guard is warning the public not to swim or dive in flooded disused quarries. In particular we are appealing to parents to be vigilant and warn their children of the dangers of visiting disused quarries. In the Fingal area there are several large disused quarries which can become flooded from time to time, with water depths in excess of 50 feet reported in some cases. There have been numerous reports of young people swimming in these quarry lakes, particularly when very warm weather arrives.

Recent tragedies around the country have once again highlighted the serious dangers posed by swimming in flooded quarries.  

The Coast Guard’s message is clear; never swim in quarry lakes. If you want to cool down in the open water over the summer, head to a beach which has lifeguards on duty.

Hidden dangers

It is understandable that a flooded quarry may look very appealing to young people, particularly in times of very hot weather. But beneath the calm and tranquil water surface, lurks a long list of possible deadly hazards.  Hazards that would overcome even the strongest and most competent swimmers. This can include abandoned mining machinery and cables, often only a few feet beneath the water surface. The branches from recently submerged vegetation, including trees and shrubs, can also easily entangle a swimmer. The steep margins surrounding a quarry lake make climbing out of the water very difficult, that’s even without factors such as injury, cold shock or exhaustion playing their part.

Quarry owners in Fingal area have taken appropriate and reasonable measures to prevent unauthorised access including in some cases the erection of secure perimeter fencing, warning notices and monitored cctv cameras. However, there have been reports of these obvious deterrents being willfully ignored by people still attempting to swim in those areas. It is worth remembering that these quarries are located on private lands.

Skerries Coast Guard’s familiarisation training

Earlier this year, Skerries Coast Guard engaged in several familiarization training exercises in quarries in the Fingal area. Unfortunately for the emergency services, attempting a rescue in a quarry environment would prove very difficult due to the harsh, inaccessible terrain and litany of hazards presented. Understandably, the Coast Guard would much rather focus their efforts in preventing an accident occurring.

This warning is also featured in this week’s Fingal Independent.

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

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty on the ocast or cliffs, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.

Skerries beach party

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This morning the Skerries Coast Guard team dropped in to the Community Beach Party, at the South Strand, Skerries. This excellent event was organised by the Skerries Community Association, in part to celebrate the return of the prestigious blue flag to the Skerries beach.

The sun beamed down on the large crowd as the impressive sandcastle competition got underway. The Skerries Coast Guard team handed out plenty of Coast Guard goodies and water safety books, which were very well received by the crowd.

 

Marine Notice #32 of 2012 – Live surface to air firing practices

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Live surface to air firing practices will take place at the Gormanston Air Defence Range on 3rd to 4th July 2012, from 09:00 to 18:00 each day.

The danger area comprises the lands of Gormanston Aerodrome and the Air and Sea areas contained within a radius of 3 nautical miles centred on Gormanston Aerodrome, with an additional area contained within a segment centred on Gormanston Aerodrome and bearing of 015º degrees true, through Mosney Railway Station and 106º degrees true, through Gormanston Railway Station seawards for a distance of 10 nautical miles. For the periods whilst the Range is active the sea zone within the danger area is excluded to all vessels.

A Naval Service vessel will enforce the exclusion zone. The exclusion zone ‘D1’ is indicated on British Admiralty Chart No. 44.

All vessels are advised that they are required to remain outside of the exclusion zone whilst the Range is active. All vessels in the area are also recommended to carefully monitor the Radio Navigation Warnings that will be broadcast during the firing period.

To view the full text of the marine notice, visit the Department of Transport’s website.

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

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty on the coast, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save a life.