Category Archives: water safety

Marine Notice #3 of 2017 – Helicopter SAR Hi-line technique

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Skerries Coast Guard

The Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport have recently issued Marine Notice #3 Helicopter SAR Hi-Line technique. The Marine Notice contains the latest guidelines for the safe operation of a hi-line. The hi-line is a technique that may be used by the helicopter crew for the safe transfer of persons or equipment between the helicopter and a vessel in difficulty.

All seafarers are recommended to read the Marine Notice #3 of 2017 and familarise themselves with the safe operation of the hi-line.

A copy of the Marine Notice #3 2017 is available from the dttas.ie website

Coast Guard Hi-line

Coast Guard Helicopter visit – 23rd May 2016

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Skerries Coast Guard R116This morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team hosted a visit from the Irish Coast Guard’s Sikorsky S92 helicopter. The Coast Guard helicopter landed on at Skerries Harps GAA pitch for special visit for the pupils of Scoil Realt na Mara primary school, Skerries. The Coast Guard’s helicopter landed on at the Skerries Harps GAA pitch at 09:30, with orange smoke flares deployed shortly beforehand to assist with wind speed/direction indication.

Skerries Coast Guard

Over 300 excited primary school pupils took part in the visit; learning about the vital work of the Coast Skerries Coast Guard
Guard helicopter crews, their local Skerries Coast Guard team and also the importance of water safety. The helicopter departed on schedule shortly after 11:00am, bringing to a close a thoroughly enjoyable event for all involved. Further photos of this visit will shortly be available in our online gallery.

Skerries Coast Guard extends its thanks to the Skerries Harps GAA club for allowing the use of their pitch to facilitate this helicopter visit.

Skerries Coast GuardSkerries Coast Guard

Sky Lanterns – safety advice

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Skerries Coast Guard’s Safety Advice for Sky Lanterns

These airborne Chinese lanterns have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way of marking special events. However, they do pose a significant danger to aviation traffic and can cause the deployment of Irish Coast Guard resources on false rescue missions. Chinese lanterns, drifting across a night sky, are commonly mistaken by the public for marine distress flares. Each year, the Skerries Coast Guard team are tasked to investigate false distress alerts caused by Sky Lanterns.

If you are intending to release sky lanterns:

You must, before the release date, obtain permission in writing from the Flight Operations Dept of the Irish Aviation Authority.  You can contact them at fod@iaa.ie or by phone at 01 603 1148

Just before releasing the lanterns:

To ensure your lanterns are not confused as a sighting of a distress signal, you must contact the following agencies just prior to releasing the lanterns:

  • Irish Coast Guard
  • Nearest Air Traffic Control unit
  • Nearest Garda station

The detailed advice and all contact phone numbers are contained in the IAA’s Sky Lantern safety leaflet, available from their website or by clicking here.

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

Marine Notice #28 of 2015 – survey operations off Rush coast, Co Dublin

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MV Bibby Athena

The Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport have recently issued Marine Notice #28 of 2015 advising of forthcoming survey operations off the east coast of Ireland. Commencing on 22nd June 2015 for a period not exceeding 60 days, two survey vessels (MV Bibby Athena & MV Proteus) will survey the route of the East West Interconnector between Rush, Co Dublin and Prestatyn, North Wales.

Survey operations will involve towing survey equipment on and below the water surface, up to 300m behind the vessels. All vessels, particularly those engaged in fishing are requested to give the survey vessels a wide berth and keep a sharp lookout in the relevant areas at all times.

The full text of the Marine Notice, along with survey route details is available from the Department’s website.