Category Archives: water safety

Live surface to air firing at Gormanston Range – November 2014

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Live firing Gormonston

The Defence Forces have advised that they will conduct live Surface to Air firing practices at Gormanston Ranges on the 4th and 5th November between the hours of 10:00 – 14:30.

The danger area comprises the lands of Gormanston Aerodrome and the Air and Sea areas contained within a radius of 3 nautical miles centred on Gormanston Aerodrome, with an additional area contained within a segment centred on Gormanston Aerodrome and bearing of 015º degrees true, through Mosney Railway Station and 106º degrees true, through Gormanston Railway Station seawards for a distance of 10 nautical miles. For the periods whilst the Range is active the sea zone within the danger area is excluded to all vessels.

A Naval Service patrol vessel will enforce the exclusion zone. The exclusion zone ‘D1’ is indicated on British Admiralty Chart No. 44. All vessels are advised that they are required to remain outside of the exclusion zone whilst the Range is active. All vessels in the area are recommended to carefully monitor the Radio Navigation Warnings that will be broadcast during the firing period.

 

Further details on this Marine Notice #62 is available from the Department’s website www.dttas.ie

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

Coast Guard Helicopter visit to Donabate school

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This morning, members of the Skerries Coast Guard team were out at the Portrane/Donabate peninsula for a landing of the Coast Guard’s Dublin based Sikorsky S92 helicopter (Rescue 116). The helicopter landing was eagerly awaited by a large crowd of 450 primary pupils of Donabate’s Scoil Phadraic Cailini.

Donabate heli Skerries CGU

The Skerries team prepared the landing site for the helicopter at Donabate’s St Pats GAA Club. Orange smoke flares were deployed to assist with wind speed/direction indication for the helicopter crew. After a couple of circuits, the helicopter landed down safely at Donabate shortly after 09:30. Once shutdown was complete, each class of pupils along with their teacher were provided with an enjoyable and informative tour of the impressive Coast Gaurd helicopter by a member of the flight crew. Included in these talks was also important advice on water safety, particularly vital as we approach the summer holidays.

After almost 1.5 hours on scene at Donabate, the visit concluded and the Coast Guard helicopter departed back to its nearby base at Dublin Airport. Skerries Coast Guard would like to sincerely thank the Principal of the school at Donabate, Margaret O’Neill, for her assistance in organising this Coast Guard visit to the school.

This helicopter visit is one of the many water safety awareness talks and events organised by Skerries Coast Guard each year with local schools in our operational area from Laytown to Malahide.  For more information on these water safety visits, take a look at our Water Safety page.

More photos of the visit will shortly be available in our online gallery.

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

Live Air to Surface firing at Gormanston Range – September 2013

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Marine Notice #41 of 2013

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been advised by the Defence Forces that the “Flying Training School”, Irish Air Corps, will conduct live Air to Surface firing practices on the following dates:

Ranges active from:
From 9th September 2013 to 14th September 2013 inclusive;
From 16th September 2013 to 21st September 2013 inclusive;
From 23rd September 2013 to 27th September 2013 inclusive.

Time:       08:00 to 17:00 Hours daily.

The danger area comprises the lands of Gormanston Aerodrome and the Air and Sea areas contained within a radius of 3 nautical miles centred on Gormanston Aerodrome with an additional area contained within a segment centred on Gormanston Aerodrome and bearing of 015º degrees true, through Mosney Railway Station and 106º degrees true, through Gormanston Railway Station seawards for a distance of 10 nautical miles.

Surface area to be engaged will be the beach area inside the ‘D1’ at Gormanston.

For the periods whilst the Range is active the sea zone within the danger area is excluded to all vessels.  A Naval Service patrol vessel will enforce the exclusion zone.  The exclusion zone ‘D1’ is indicated on British Admiralty Chart No. 44. All vessels are advised that they are required to remain outside of the exclusion zone whilst the Range is active.  All vessels in the area are recommended to carefully monitor the Radio Navigation Warnings that will be broadcast during the firing period.

Aercorps AW139

The full text of this Marine Notice is available from the Deprtment’s website.

Algal bloom alert – July 2013

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Algal bloom at North Beach, Skerries

Skerries Coast Guard would remind the public to be alert for any outbreaks of Algal Blooms along the coast. These blooms are often referred to as Red Tide. These blooms are common after periods of very warm weather and can present as a red or orange cloudy discolouration of the water. While these Algal Blooms are generally harmless to humans, it is best that they are properly checked out and water samples taken.

If you spot any Algal Blooms along the coast, please notify the Coast Guard on 999 or 112.