At 19:03 this evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate reports of multiple red parachute distress flares deployed North of Balbriggan. Concerned members of the public had contacted the Irish Coast Guard’s control centre to report sighting the orange/red parachute flares.

The Skerries team were immediately despatched to the scene and observed a number of flares in the area North of Balbriggan, near the Gormonston army training camp. It emerged that the army were engaged in exercises in the area and these involved the deployment of illuminating flares. No further action was required and the team returned to base.

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

Incident # 24 of 2011

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

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Shortly after 23:00 tonight, the Coast Guard’s control centre received a call from a member of the public at Rush, six miles South of Skerries, reporting a red distress flare near the coast. A rib heading South near Malahide also contacted the Coast Guard on VHF CH 16 to report spotting the flare.

The Skerries Coast Guard team were immediately despatched to the scene and a detailed search of the area was undertaken. No further flares were sighted and nothing unusual noted. The coast Guard issued a Pan Pan broadcast for all nearby ships to report anything unusual. No further action was required and the team returned to base.

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

Incident # 23 of 2011

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

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Just before 01:00 this morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate a report of a white flare near Gormonston, two miles North of Balbriggan harbour. A vigilent member of the public had spotted what appeared to be a white parachute flare just off the coast and was concerned it could have been from a ship in distress.

The Skerries Coast Guard team were dispatched to investigate and carried out a thorough search of the area with nothing unusual reported. No further action was required and the team returned to base.

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

Incident # 22 of 2011

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At 19:55 this evening the Irish Coast Guard’s control centre received a 999 report from a member of the public who had spotted a flare near Loughshinny. The caller, who was on the water at the time, reported the flare to be white in colour and its trajectory resembled that of a marine parachute flare. The Skerries Coast Guard team were immediately dispatched to Loughshinny, 3 miles South of Skerries, to investigate the report.

Weather conditions on scene were favourable with light Force 4 SW winds, fair weather and good visibility. The area was thouroughly searched with nothing unusual noted. No further action requried and the team returned to base.

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty on the coast, even if you only think someone could be in difficulty, diall 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.

Incident # 20 of 2011

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At 23:35 tonight, Skerries Coast Guard were tasked by the Coast Guard’s operations centre to investigate a report of distress flares. A vigilant member of the public near Howth had contacted the Coast Guard to report sighting what appeared to be two distress flares in the sky North of Lambay Island, off the coast of Rush. Skerries Coast Guard conducted a shoreline search of the area and no further flares were sighted. The Coast Guard helicopter R116, returning from a search South of Dublin, conducted a sweep of the area with nothing to report. The search was concluded and the Skerries Coast Guard team returned to base.

Incident #14 of 2011

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At 22:53 this evening, Skerries Coast Guard were tasked to investigate a report of distress flares sighted in the vicinity of the South Strand, Skerries. A member of the public had spotted what appeared to be two marine flares deployed in the area. The Skerries team conducted a shore search of the South Strand and nothing further was noted. Visibility in the area was good with only light winds. No further action was required and the team returned to base.

Incident #7 of 2011

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At 19:45 this evening, the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard were tasked to investigate a report of a distress flare sighted in the sky near Loughshinny. A vigilant member of the public had contacted the Coast Guard on 999 to report sighting a distress flare off the coast of Loughshinny, approximately 5 miles South of Skerries. With good visibility and fair weather, the Skerries team conducted a shoreline search in the Loughshinny and Rush areas. Nothing unusual was noted and no further flares were sighted. The team were stood down and returned to base.

Remember – if you see someone in difficulty at sea or on the coast, even if you think that someone may be in difficulty, call 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD.

Incident # 20 of 2010

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At  22:50 this evening, the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard were tasked to investigate reports of distress flares deployed near Skerries harbour. A 999 caller had reported the flare sighting to the Coast Guard’s coordination centre in Dublin.

The Skerries Coast Guard team conducted a search of the harbour area with nothing unusual noted. No further distress flares were sighted in the area. The Skerries team were subsequently stood down and returned to base.

Remember - if you spot someone in difficulty on the cliffs or coast, or even if you think you see someone in difficulty – call 112 or 999 and ask for the COAST GUARD.

Incident # 19 of 2010

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At 20:20 this evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked by the Irish Coast Guard’s rescue co-ordination centre (MRCC) to investigate a report of a possible sighting of a red distress flare south of Loughshinney harbour.

Skerries Coast Guard Volunteers conducted an extensive search of the coastline between Loughshinney and Rogerstown estuary. Although there were a number of large vessles visible at sea off the coast, nothing unusual was found. The team were subsequently stood down by MRCC.

Weather conditions in the area were fair with good visibilty and light SW winds.

Remember, If you see someone in difficulty in the water (sea, river or lake) or on the cliffs, diall 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard – do not assume someone else has made the call.

Incident #2 of 2009

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Incident #16 of 2008