Tag Archives: Skerries

Pollution incident at Skerries harbour – 12th July 2013

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At 04:52 this morning the Skerries Coast Guard were tasked to investigate a report of pollution in the area of Skerries harbour and the nearby North Beach. A concerned member of the public had contacted the Coast Guard’s operation centre to report one of the fishing vessels at the harbour had sunk during the night and had resulted in oil pollution in the area.

The team inspected the area of the vessel, a small razor clam fishing vessel, and also carried out extensive searches of the nearby shorelines These inspections found some diesel appeared to have leaked from the vessel. The owner of the vessel arrived on scene and confirmed that only a small volume of diesel was onboard.

The Coast Guard’s Dublin based Sikorsky helicopter, Rescue 116, was tasked to carry out aerial inspections of the area and confirmed only minor scale pollution in the area of the harbour. Fingal County Council were notified of the incident.

Photos of the incident are available on our twitter account – @SkerriesCG

Incident # 15 of 2013

Remember – if you spot anyone in difficulty along the coast, sial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life

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.

Search Training at South Strand, Skerries

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This evening the Skerries Coast Guard team were out in force at Red Island and South Strand, Skerries for their regular search training. Following the scenario of a person reporting missing in the area, two search teams were dispatched. One commenced from the Northern boundary of the search area and one from the South. The “missing person” target was successfully located during the initial search sweep within the area.

This was followed up with some first aid training, focusing on the spinal immobilization and extraction of a casualty from the sand dune area.

Remember- if you spot someone in difficulty on the coast, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.

Report of persons in difficulty – 24th June 2013

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jeep-and-shenick-island2

Shortly before 21:00 this evening the Skerries Coast Guard Unit were tasked to investigate a report of persons in difficulty in the water between Shenick Island and the mainland at Skerries. A concerned member of the public had spotted a group of youths in the deep water, making their way in to the shore from Skenick Island.

The Coast Guard team investigated and quickly located the group who had reached the South Strand shoreline. All were ok and not in need of assistance. However, the Coast Guard spotted a small group huddled together on another offshore Island, Colt Island. The Skerries lifeboat was requested to check on this group and all was ok, they were kayakers taking a break on the Island.

No further action was required and the Coast Guard team returned to base.

With the Summer Solstice Spring Tides occuring over the next few days, the low tides in the Skerries area will be unusually low. While Shenick Island may appear inviting for a walk across, the public should be mindful that the tide floods very quickly in the area and they run the risk of being stranded.

Incident # 11 of 2013

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty along the coast, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.