Aran Islands and Galway RNLI participate in mass rescue exercise on Galway Bay
Volunteer lifeboat crews from the Aran Islands and Galway RNLI participated in a multi-agency training exercise on Galway Bay this week.
The all-weather lifeboat from Aran Islands RNLI and the inshore lifeboat from Galway Bay RNLI were among the many emergency service agencies that took part in a maritime mass rescue exercise.
The scenario training which saw the lifeboat crew practise an evacuation of survivors from a seagoing ferry in a busy shipping lane, was organised as part of a multi-agency exercise coordinated by the Irish Coast Guard.
Among the other agencies involved were the Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopters located at Sligo and Shannon, Doolin/Inisheer Boat Unit, Costello Bay, Killaloe, Kilkee and Cleggan Coast Guard units, Galway Fire Service and the HSE.
Speaking following the exercise, Lena O’Connell, Aran Islands RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘Our lifeboat crews train together every week, at sea and ashore. Training focuses on teamwork, technical competence and safe operating procedures covering everything from boat-handling, search and rescue, and navigation, to radar training, radio communications and casualty care.
‘On occasion like this week, we also practise rescue scenarios involving other emergency services such as the Coast Guard and fire and rescue services and this was a wonderful opportunity for all the various agencies to put their training into action and work together as a wider response team’.
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For more information please telephone Lena O’Connell, Aran Islands RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 0879337882 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 or [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [email protected]
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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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