Marine Notice #3 of 2015 – deployment of data buoys, North Co Dublin

buoy_news_jpg__300x200_q85_crop_subsampling-2

The Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport has been advised that Techworks Marine Ltd will deploy four moored Marine Data Buoys to gather scientific data on marine mammals. These buoys will be deployed in the Irish Sea at Loughshinny and Portmarnock between 9th and 16th February. One buoy will be deployed off the Loughshinny coast and will remain in place for up to six months.

Each data buoy is 1.2m wide, yellow in colour and has a navigation light as follows; yellow in colour, 5 flashes every 20 seconds. The light has a 5 Nautical Mile range. All vessels are requested to give the data buoys a wide berth.

These buoys are being deployed as part of the Greater Dublin Drainage project being conducted by Irish Water. Further details on this project are available from their website

The full text of the marine notice along with the exact locations of the buoys is available from the Department’s website.

.

Pyrotechnics training at Hampton Cove, Balbriggan

Skerries Coast Guard training Hampton Cove, Balbriggan

This morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team conducted a pyrotechnic training exercise at Hampton Cove, Balbriggan approximately 5 miles north of Skerries. The team regularly undertake training in the handling, preparation and firing of these white parachute flares. Weather conditions on scene were excellent, with prevailing light offshore winds and good visibility.

Typically, the Skerries Coast Guard team deploy these white parachute flares during night incidents when they are very effective at illuminating large areas of the shoreline.

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty on the shore, or even think that someone might be in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save a life.

IMG_7532

Report of flare off Rush – 11th October 2014

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

Exercise with Coast Guard helicopter – 24 August 2014

Skerries Coast Guard Rescue 116

Early this morning the Skerries Coast Guard team were out in force at Red Island, Skerries for a routine training exercise with the Coast Guard’s Dublin based Sikorsky helicopter. The team selected and prepared the landing site, deploying smoke flares to assist the helicopter crew with wind speed/direction assessment. The Sikorsky S92 helicopter, EI-ICR, landed on at Red Island at 09:30, having made the trip from its base at Dublin Airport in approximately 10 minutes.

The Skerries team were also joined by their fellow volunteers from the neighbouring station of Clogherhead Coast Guard. All members took part in a briefing and practical exercise, covering key SAR operational procedures.

The helicopter departed shortly before 12:00, after completing a winching exercise at the Red Island site. The Skerries Coast Guard team would like to thank all the public fo complying with the directions of Coast Guard personnel while this exercise took place.

Photos of this and earlier exercises will be shortly available in our online gallery.

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