Tag Archives: distress flares

Report of flare off Rush – 11th October 2014

Posted on by

Shortly after 21:00 this evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate a flare report off the coast of Rush, approximately 4 miles south of Skerries. A flight crew member of a passing passenger jet reported seeing one yellow flare off the Rush coast. The Skerries team carried out a shoreline search of the area with nothing further to report. No further flares were observed or reported.

No further action was required and the Skerries team returned to base.

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty on the coast, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Do not assume that someone else will make that call.

Skerries Coast Guard White parachute flare

Report of red flares – 11th June 2014

Posted on by

At 23:00 this evening the Coast Guard’s National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) received several independent public reports of red flares sighted off the Fingal coast. The exact location of the flares was difficult to pinpoint, however it was believed they were fired on the coastline area between Rush and Malahide.

The Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate and immediately began a comprehensive shoreline search of the area. Several Skerries Coast Guard search teams were deployed and the area (including Loughshinny, Rush, Rogerstown Estuary, Portrane, Donabate and Malahide Estuary) were thoroughly searched. The Howth lifeboat was also tasked to the area and carried out a detailed at sea search with the assistance of a private vessel. Howth CGU were tasked to search south of Malahide.

No further flares were sighted or anything unusual noted. Conditions on scene were very good with clear visibility and only light SW winds. All search teams were stood down in the early hours of the morning and returned to base.

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

Report of distress flares off Rush – 20th January 2014

Posted on by

Shortly after darkness this evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate a report of possible distress flares off the Rush coast, three miles south of Skerries. The Coast Guard’s National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) had received a report from a vigilant member of the public who had sighted two parachute flares deployed off the Rush coast.

The Skerries Coast Guard team arrived on scene within minutes and immediately began to carry out a detailed search of the coastline. The Coast Guard’s helicopter based at Dublin, Rescue 116 was also tasked and carried out an extensive search of the sea area. Nothing further was spotted and with the area thoroughly searched no further action was required.

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty on the coast, even if you only think they may be in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Do not assume someone else has made the call.

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

Joint Exercise at Clogherhead CG & Incidents – 14th August 2013

Posted on by

Clogherhead CG 14 July 2013

This evening, members of the Skerries Coast Guard team accepted an invitation from their neighbouring station of Clogherhead Coast Guard to attend a joint training exercise at Clogherhead.

During this exercise, the Clogherhead CG team were tasked to assist with a casualty injured on a headland near the station. Members of the Skerries Coast Guard team assisted Clogherhead CG with the successful extraction and treatment of the casualty.

Incident # 17 of 2013

Meanwhile, shortly before 22:00 the remaining Skerries Coast Guard team back at the Skerries CG base were paged to investigate reports of red flares sighted North of Balbriggan. The team conducted a coastline search of the area with nothing to report. Both the Skerries and Clogherhead lifeboats were also tasked to investigate the flare reports. No further action was required and the team returned to base.

Incident # 18 of 2013