Tag Archives: Red Island

Training with Coast Guard helicopter – 7th July 2013

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This morning the Skerries Coast Guard team took part in a routine training exercise with one of the Coast Guard’s Sikorsky S61N helicopters at Red Island. The Skerries team prepared the landing site, including deploying smoke flares, for the 9am arrival.

The Skerries CG team received a practical brief and practice of winching techniques and the use of the highline. Embarkation and disembarkation procedures were also covered in the brief. Thereafter, the team took part in a live winch and flight exercise.

FLIR console Skerries Coast Guard

SCG team member at the FLIR camera console onboard the CG helicopter during the training flight.

This may be one of the last outings for this particular aircraft, EI-RCG, which is due to be retired very shortly as part of the Coast Guard’s fleet upgrade programme.

Photos of the exercise will be available on our online photo gallery.

Training with Coast Guard helicopter

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This morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team took part in a helicopter operations training exercise with the crew of the Dublin based Coast Guard helicopter, EI-CXS. The helicopter landed at Red Island, Skerries at 10:00 where its crew gave a very detailed operations briefing to the Skerries team. The briefing also covered the various SAR equipment used onboard the helicopter, including infra red cameras (FLIR), Night Sun searchlight, winching operations and flight controls..

In advance of the helicopter’s arrival, the Skerries team cleared and prepared the Red Island landing zone. Smoke flares were also deployed by the team to assist the flight crew with determining the wind speed and direction during the landing.

This very enjoyable exercise forms part of the Skerries Coast Guard team’s regular training program.

Photos of the exercise are available in our online gallery.

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

Rescue off Skerries coast – 12th June 2011

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At 19:40 this evening, the Coast Guard received a report of two adults in need of assistance off the coast of Skerries. The two adults were spotted departing on two motor dinghies the previous evening and had not returned, their vehicles still parked up at the shore, raising concerns. The Skerries Coast Guard team were immediately tasked to begin a coastal search. Fortunately, local Gardai were able to trace the identities of the two through their car registration numbers and the Coast Guard was able to make contact with the two adults and establish their exact location

The two had ventured out to St Patrick’s island, off the Skerries coast and planned to return on the Sunday, however poor weather conditions had hampered their plans. The Skerries lifeboat was requested to return them safely from the island to Skerries harbour where they met with a Coast Guard team. Thankfully both adults were unharmed.

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

Incident # 12 of 2011

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Unusual lights – 2nd June 2011

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At 23:00, Skerries Coast Guard were tasked to investigate reports of lights on Shenick Island, off the coast of Skerries. A concerned member of the public at the nearby headland of Red Island had spotted lights on Shenick Island. They were concerned that someone may have been stranded by the incoming tide and was trapped on the island overnight. The Skerries Coast Guard team conducted a search of the area and observed the reported lights. These appeared to be originating from a small fishing vessel stationed on the Eastern side of the island, there did not appear to be anyone on the island itself. With no further action required the Skerries team were stood down for the night.

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

Incident # 11 of 2011

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