This morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team conducted a routine pyrotechnics training exercise at Hampton Cove, Balbriggan. Conditions on scene were excellent, with clear skies, light F2 NW winds and good visibility. This proved useful practical training in pyrotechnics safety, launch techniques and misfire protocols. A range of pyrotechnics were fired during the exercise, including white parachute rocket flares, orange handheld smoke flares and orange smoke cannisters.
At 13:10 today the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard were tasked by MRCC to investigate reports that a member of the public required assistance near Balbriggan. The Skerries team were on scene within minutes and quickly located the person, who was stranded on rocks having been cut off by an unusually fast incoming tide.
The Skerries Coast Guard team assisted the person safely back to the shoreline.
Incident #3 of 2009
This afternoon, the Skerries Coast Guard team conducted a routine pyrotechnics training exercise. Two teams were positioned at Skerries and Balbriggan, with several white parachute flares being deployed at various intervals.
These rocket flares are frequently used by the Coast Guard during incidents as a means of illuminating large areas at night and also as a signalling aid.
At 10:15 this morning, the Skerries Coast Guard volunteers were tasked by MRCC to investigate reports of an unusual object in the water South of Balbriggan Harbour. A concerned member of the public had contacted the Coast Guard as the object appeared to resemble an upturned boat or canoe and was some 200 yards offshore. There were no other vessels in the area.
The Skerries team arrived on scene within minutes and conducted a detailed search of the area. The team located the object and established that no further action was required.
Weather conditions on scene were fair, F2 Southerly winds and good visibility.
Incident # 18 of 2008
