First call out of the year for Skerries RNLI
Skerries RNLI along with Howth RNLI were tasked on Monday morning (24 February) shortly before 7.30am after Dublin Coast Guard picked up a signal from an emergency beacon almost 2 miles north east of Skerries.
The Atlantic 85 Inshore lifeboat was launched by the volunteer crew into strong west to south west winds, gusting to 30 knots at times.
Skerries lifeboat, Howth lifeboat and the Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopter R116 all proceeded to the last co-ordinates received by the Coast Guard and began a thorough search of the area in challenging conditions.
The vessel registered to the EPIRB (Emergency position-indicating radio beacon) was confirmed to be safely tied up in Skerries harbour, however, the EPIRB was discovered to have been removed. The lifeboats and the helicopter continued to search the area until the Coast Guard was satisfied that the beacon had not been taken to sea aboard another vessel.
The decision was taken to stand down all three rescue assets and to continue the investigation ashore.
The call out marked the first time this year that the pagers have sounded for the volunteers of Skerries RNLI.
Speaking about the call out, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Skerries RNLI, Gerry Canning said: ‘EPIRBS are a vital piece of safety equipment, often designed to activate when a vessel capsizes or sinks, so any activation has to be treated very seriously. It was a wet morning for most people today, but even more so for our crews’
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Gerry Canning, Skerries RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 087 988 4965 or email [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, RNLI Ireland Media Officer on 087 648 3547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Ireland Media Manager on 087 1254 124 or [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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