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RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland
Afloat.ie: Crew members safe after Lifeboat Capsize
Three RNLI volunteer lifeboat crewmembers are safe and well after the Wexford inshore lifeboat capsized yesterday (Sunday 22 November 2009) during a training exercise south of Ravens Point off the Wexford coast. Two crewmembers managed to stay in contact with…
Afloat.ie: Baltimore RNLI Lifeboat in Flood Rescue
The crew of Baltimore lifeboat went to support flood rescue efforts in Skibbereen last Thursday. The eight crewmen who made their way to Skibbereen that evening were Cathal Cottrell, Aidan Bushe, Youen Jacob, Ronan Calnan, Ronan Sheehy, John McDonagh, John…
RNLI and Kerry GAA Launch Reindeer Run
The RNLI has joined forces with Kerry GAA star Colm Cooper to officially launch a fun run with a difference – the RNLI Reindeer Run will take place on Sunday 29 November in the Killarney National Park and all funds…
Bravery Medal for Portrush Lifeboatman
Anthony Chambers, mechanic and crew member at Portush Lifeboat Station, Antrim, N. Ireland, is to be awarded the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) Bronze Medal for Gallantry for rescuing two 14-year-old boys trapped by the rising tide in a cliff…
Castlemartyr Resort Presents Cheque to Ballycotton Lifeboat
Castlemartyr Resort has donated 700 Euro to Ballycotton Lifeboat from money raised at a local fair. The 5 Star hotel was invited to take part in the recent Midleton Food Fair. They served food to the adults and had a…
Lone Sailor Rescued in Irish Sea
At ten minutes past seven this morning, Swansea Coastguard received a call from a man out walking on the coast with his dog.  The man informed the Coastguard that he could see a yacht drifting out to sea, with torn…
Five Saved from Fishing Vessel Fire on Belfast Lough
Five people were rescued from the waters just outside Belfast harbour this afternoon after a fishing vessel caught fire. The vessel 'Amity' reported the fire on board the 'Bellatrix' after picking five people up from water. The crew of the ‘Amity’…
Two Rescued After Motor Vessel Dashed on Rocks
At just after 11am this morning, Holyhead Coast Guard on the Irish Sea were alerted by a mobile phone call from the skipper of a small 27–foot red hulled commercial motor vessel called ‘Jean M’ that was being dashed against…
Small Norwegian Coaster Drifting off Mull of Kintyre
A small Norwegian coaster is drifting in the Mull of Kintyre after losing engine power earlier this evening.The skipper of the small cargo vessel ‘Fame’, called Clyde Coastguard on channel 16 at 7:20pm requesting towage. The vessel had four people…
Lifeboat Station Gives Thanks
Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat station will hold its annual Service of Thanksgiving for members of the emergency services on Sunday next, 11 October. This annual ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving will be held in the Star of the Sea Church, Ballycotton, at…
Four Youths Rescued off Liverpool
Action on the far side of the Irish Sea this afternoon as Liverpool Coastguard have been co-ordinated the rescue of four people from a small vessel ‘Valerie’ which contacted the marine emergency service at 4.20pm. The small 12 foot petrol…
Kite-surfers rescued off Dollymount Strand
Dun Laoghaire's Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) was called to assist two kite-surfers off Dollymount Strand on Friday (September 25th). The incident occurred shortly before 3pm when a novice kite-surfer lost control and started to be carried away from the beach by…
Elderly Kayakers Rescued
Last night Milford Haven Coastguard on the far side of the Irish Sea received an emergency call alerting them to two missing kayakers. The married couple in their late 60s and early seventies, who live in Crosswell, had departed from…
Three Women Rescued from Dinghy
Belfast Coastguard received a report yesterday afternoon that a small dinghy with three women onboard had been blown a mile out to sea by a strong offshore wind from Cloughey on the Ards Peninsula. Belfast Coastguard requested the launch of…
Lifeboats Record Increase in Summer Launches
Preliminary figures* for summer 2009, issued today (Friday 25 Sept) by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), show the charity's lifeboats had one of their busiest summer holiday seasons. The figures show a 12 per cent increase in Irish lifeboat…
Divers Found After Air, Land and Sea Search
Two divers who went missing near Fishguard this afternoon have just been found after a major air land and sea search which lasted nearly three hours. The two 50 year old men had been diving on a world war II…

Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) in Ireland Information

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity to save lives at sea in the waters of UK and Ireland. Funded principally by legacies and donations, the RNLI operates a fleet of lifeboats, crewed by volunteers, based at a range of coastal and inland waters stations. Working closely with UK and Ireland Coastguards, RNLI crews are available to launch at short notice to assist people and vessels in difficulties.

RNLI was founded in 1824 and is based in Poole, Dorset. The organisation raised €210m in funds in 2019, spending €200m on lifesaving activities and water safety education. RNLI also provides a beach lifeguard service in the UK and has recently developed an International drowning prevention strategy, partnering with other organisations and governments to make drowning prevention a global priority.

Irish Lifeboat Stations

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland, with an operational base in Swords, Co Dublin. Irish RNLI crews are tasked through a paging system instigated by the Irish Coast Guard which can task a range of rescue resources depending on the nature of the emergency.

Famous Irish Lifeboat Rescues

Irish Lifeboats have participated in many rescues, perhaps the most famous of which was the rescue of the crew of the Daunt Rock lightship off Cork Harbour by the Ballycotton lifeboat in 1936. Spending almost 50 hours at sea, the lifeboat stood by the drifting lightship until the proximity to the Daunt Rock forced the coxswain to get alongside and successfully rescue the lightship's crew.

32 Irish lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions, including the 15 crew of the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) lifeboat which capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Palme on Christmas Eve 1895.

FAQs

While the number of callouts to lifeboat stations varies from year to year, Howth Lifeboat station has aggregated more 'shouts' in recent years than other stations, averaging just over 60 a year.

Stations with an offshore lifeboat have a full-time mechanic, while some have a full-time coxswain. However, most lifeboat crews are volunteers.

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland

32 Irish lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions, including the 15 crew of the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) lifeboat which capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Palme on Christmas Eve 1895

In 2019, 8,941 lifeboat launches saved 342 lives across the RNLI fleet.

The Irish fleet is a mixture of inshore and all-weather (offshore) craft. The offshore lifeboats, which range from 17m to 12m in length are either moored afloat, launched down a slipway or are towed into the sea on a trailer and launched. The inshore boats are either rigid or non-rigid inflatables.

The Irish Coast Guard in the Republic of Ireland or the UK Coastguard in Northern Ireland task lifeboats when an emergency call is received, through any of the recognised systems. These include 999/112 phone calls, Mayday/PanPan calls on VHF, a signal from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or distress signals.

The Irish Coast Guard is the government agency responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue operations. To carry out their task the Coast Guard calls on their own resources – Coast Guard units manned by volunteers and contracted helicopters, as well as "declared resources" - RNLI lifeboats and crews. While lifeboats conduct the operation, the coordination is provided by the Coast Guard.

A lifeboat coxswain (pronounced cox'n) is the skipper or master of the lifeboat.

RNLI Lifeboat crews are required to follow a particular development plan that covers a pre-agreed range of skills necessary to complete particular tasks. These skills and tasks form part of the competence-based training that is delivered both locally and at the RNLI's Lifeboat College in Poole, Dorset

 

While the RNLI is dependent on donations and legacies for funding, they also need volunteer crew and fund-raisers.

© Afloat 2020