At 23:15, the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard were tasked by the Coast Guard’s rescue coordination centre in Dublin (MRCC) to investigate reports of a drifting boat. Several concerned members of the public had contacted the Coast Guard having spotted the boat drifting near the shoreline at Rogerstown estuary, Rush.
The Coast Guard response team arrived at Rogerstown within minutes of the tasking and spoke to several witnesses. It appears that the boat had drifted into the estuary from the South, possibly from Donabate or Portrane. As a precaution, a full Coast Guard shore search team was assembled and placed on standby at the Skerries Coast Guard base. Weather conditions on scene were excellent, with good visibility, helped somewhat by the full moon.
Following a detailed examination of the boat on scene, the Skerries Coast Guard team established that the boat had simply drifted free of its moorings. The boat was secured at the scene and no further action was required.
Remember! – if you spot someone in difficulty on the coast or cliffs, or if you see something that leads you to think that someone may be in difficulty, diall 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Do not assume that someone else has made that call.
Incident #12 of 2009
