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

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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.

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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year !

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The crew of Skerries Coast Guard would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. A sincere thank you to all those who have supported our many rescues, searches, training and water safety events during 2014. This year has proved to have been one of our busiest in recent years. The Skerries Coast Guard crew will all continue be on call throughout the Christmas period, ready to respond should any incidents arise.

We would appeal to the public to remain vigilant and if you spot someone in difficulty dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.

Red Island, Skerries

Sky Lanterns Advice

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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.

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 search & rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard

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.