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A Harbour Seal photographed at Dun Laoghaire Marina on Dublin Bay, Ireland. Also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed species of pinnipeds, they are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Baltic and North seas. Photo: AfloatA photograph of a Harbour Seal taken at Dun Laoghaire Marina on Dublin Bay, Ireland. Also known as the common seal, this species can be found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They are the most widely distributed species of pinnipeds and can be found in the coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as the Baltic and North Seas. Photo: Afloat

Displaying items by tag: jet ski

On Monday, May 2 Lough Neagh Rescue was alerted by Belfast Coastguard to reports of an overturned Jetski in Antrim Bay on the Northeast corner of what is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles and Ireland.

Two casualties were taken from the water onboard the lifeboat and then were transferred to Antrim Marina where they received medical attention before being handed over to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

Also at the scene was the Lough Neagh Coastguard Rescue Team which is based at Kinnego Marina on the Southeast corner of the Lough.

Lough Neagh Rescue is a voluntary search and rescue organisation based on the shores of Lough Neagh.

Published in Rescue

Volunteer lifeboat crew at Fethard RNLI were requested to launch their lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard yesterday afternoon (Saturday 17 July) at 5.34 pm, to assist a person in difficulties on their jet ski.

The crew launched the D-Class lifeboat Naomh Dubhán on the beach under Duncannon Fort. Duncannon beach lifeguards and Rescue 117 Helicopter were also involved in the rescue.

The conditions were calm with a light breeze on the hottest day of the year.

As the lifeboat proceeded to the area where the jet ski was located, it was established from communications with the Irish Coast Guard that the male was assisted ashore by the lifeguard and locals and was receiving casualty care at Duncannon Harbour. Fethard lifeboat crew recovered the beached jet ski, towing it into the harbour and then rendered assistance with the care of the casualty.

Speaking about the incident Fethard RNLI Volunteer Helm John Colfer said, "It was a very positive outcome showing the teamwork achieved by the lifeguards, the Coast Guard helicopter and ourselves."

Published in RNLI Lifeboats
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The PSNI has confirmed that a man's body was recovered from a river in Co Fermanagh after what is believed to have been a tragic jet ski accident, reports Belfast Live.

The Emergency services attended the scene on the River Erne between Upper and Lower Lough Erne, close to the village of Bellanaleck.

The emergency call was received around 3.40 pm on Saturday (3rd) that a person had entered the river, and the incident was attended by the Police Service, the NI Ambulance Service and the Charity Air Ambulance with the Helicopter Emergency Service crew on board.

The Belfast Telegraph reported that First Minister Arlene Foster expressed her sadness at the death of the man who has been named Declan Ryan. She tweeted, "Very tragic news coming from Fermanagh today. My condolences to the family at this devastating time".

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Tramore RNLI Lifeboat in County Waterford was launched to assist jet-skiers in difficulty yesterday.

The RNLI were alerted to the incident after a member of the public contacted the emergency services.

The lifeboat was launched at 14:39 and proceeded across Tramore bay to the Rinnashark channel.

On arrival, the crew discovered the jet-skiers had managed to return to shore following a problem with their engine.

The crew met with the owner of the jetski on Saleens and confirmed they were safe and in no need of medical attention.

The RNLI wish to remind everyone to check their equipment before they put to sea.

Published in RNLI Lifeboats
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A man has been jailed for four weeks on the Isle of Man after breaking coronavirus rules by riding a jet ski from Scotland to the island.

As Sky News reports, 28-year-old Dale McLaughlan — who had never before used a personal water craft — embarked on difficult crossing in rough conditions last Friday (11 December) to visit his partner, whom he met on the island in the Irish Sea while working as a roofer in September.

It’s understood McLaughlan took the drastic measure after he was twice denied a visitor’s permit to the island, which has implemented strict access rules for non-residents to control the pandemic.

However, the move has cost McLaughlan dearly as local police confronted him at the weekend while he was on a night out.

“He was wholly inexperienced in operating a jet ski,” the Isle of Man’s deputy high bailiff said. “He deliberately attempted to avoid detection and circumvent the entry regulations in place to protect the Isle of Man.”

Sky News has more on the story HERE.

Published in Jetski
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Yesterday evening Coleraine Coastguard responded to a report of a person falling from a Jetski at Benone Beach. This popular Blue Flag beach stretches for over seven miles on the North Coast, from Downhill westwards to where it meets Magilligan Point at the mouth of Lough Foyle and forms part of one of Ireland's longest beaches.

The rider made it back to shore safely but unfortunately, the kill cord had been fitted incorrectly and the jetski continued under its own power.

Thankfully, no one was in the water close to the craft and the jetski headed offshore. It was eventually retrieved by Portrush Lifeboat several miles away close to Inishowen Head at the eastern end of the Foyle estuary in Co. Donegal.

Coleraine Coastguard said “A kill cord is an inexpensive but vital piece of safety kit, shutting down the engine of a vessel should the driver fall overboard. A vessel out of control can be a lethal weapon”.

Published in RNLI Lifeboats
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#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's inshore lifeboat launched shortly after 5pm yesterday evening (Sunday 25 September) to assist a person on a broken-down personal water craft.

The man had set off from Wicklow Harbour and was about a mile offshore when the engine cut out, leaving him adrift and unable to get ashore.

The lifeboat was alongside the casualty within minutes of launching and the crew carried out a quick assessment before towing the craft back into Wicklow Harbour and landing the man safely ashore.

Published in RNLI Lifeboats
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#jetski – The most powerful Jet Ski on the planet will be officially unveiled to the Australian public at the 2014 Gold Coast International Marine Expo from October 17-19.

The adrenalin-pumping, limited edition 2015 Kawasaki Ultra 310R draws from decades of championship-winning racing experience and will be marketed as the "ultimate sport personal watercraft"

John Moyle from Gold Coast-based Jet Ski World said: "The fastest production Jet Ski ever built just got even faster!

"There's been a lot of anticipation with this model," he said. "Kawasaki has played its cards very close to its chest so very few details have been made public before its official launch at the Expo.

"What we CAN tell you is that it will be everything the jet ski lover wants and expects from a Kawasaki!"

Kawasaki has revealed a few details to fuel the excitement among enthusiasts.

The 310R will come equipped with a high-performance deep-V hull design, which offers superb straight-line tracking and precise cornering, as well as a motocross-style electro-polished stainless steel handlebar to enhances its sport-riding capabilities while also providing excellent all-day comfort.

"It will have an upgraded 1498cc, liquid-cooled four-cylinder engine, a new 12-position handlebar mount which can be adjusted for reach and height to allow operation while standing or sitting and to suit a wide range of riders and conditions, as well as a new Sportseat offering a special support bolster and a grippy KX-motocross-like seat cover for hard sport riding.

"Add to that new Aggressive graphics to reinforce its hard-core sport capabilities."

Event and Marketing Manager Emma Milne said the fact Kawasaki had chosen the 2014 Gold Coast International Marine Expo to launch its latest flagship model was confirmation of the event's significance to the marine leisure industry.

"Expo showcases all things aquatic – from super yachts to kayaks, fishing equipment to sail boats... and everything in between," she said.

"We have a growing number of new product releases for 2014, including a massive range of personal watercraft accessories to take the fun to a whole new level, versatile and fun inflatable stand up paddleboards, as well as a new super yacht from Whitehaven Motoryachts.

"We are still talking to exhibitors so we expect to announce even more exciting new product releases in the next few weeks."

In fact, high demand for exhibitor space at the event has already prompted organisers to expand the event site – yet another indication this year's Expo will be the biggest and best yet.

Last year, more than 21,000 people attended the not-for-profit Expo – an event run by the marine industry for the marine industry and, according to Ms Milne, it is the best chance to get afloat before the summer and Christmas seasons.

"The 3km-long Expo circuit will also feature a huge range of live attractions and demonstrations every 15 minutes, including the amazing extreme high-diving show," she said.

"It really is going to be a whole lot of fun."

Published in Jetski
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#LIFEBOATS - The Wicklow People reports on the lifeboat rescue of two jet skiers at Wicklow Harbour last week.

Wicklow RNLI was dispatched at 4.15pm last Thursday to the two men who were left stranded after one jet ski was submerged while the other suffered engine failure.

A passing fishing boat also offered assistance by towing one of the jet skis and its rider back to port.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

Published in RNLI Lifeboats
Most people are content to board a plane or jump in the car to go somewhere nice on holiday. But for three Orkney Islanders only a jet ski will do.

Colin Gregg, Dugy Ward and Gary Forber have just completed an amazing jet ski adventure covering some 4570 miles at sea from Orkney to Monaco aboard their Yamaha FX HO Cruiser Jet Skis. They called it the European Jet Ski Challenge.

Setting off on 1 May 2011 and arriving in Monaco 26 days later, the three adventurers raised over £21,000 (excluding Gift Aid) for two charities: Macmillan Cancer Support and Make A Wish Foundation.

In order to reach Monaco this summer, they needed the toughest and most reliable marine navigator around. So they chose the Garmin GPSMAP 451 a compact chartplotter featuring an ultra-bright 4" colour display. Colin says: "I chose the best navigator on the market to give me the greatest chance of completing the challenge. During the voyage it endured waves up to 8 metres and withstood 4570 miles in all weathers. It is however, still in perfect condition and ready for our next adventure!"

Previously, Colin and Dugy successfully circumnavigated the UK mainland in a record time of 11 days 8 hours and 45 minutes, raising nearly £25,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support and establishing a new world record.

For more information please visit http://www.europeanjetskichallenge.co.uk/

Published in Offshore
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For all you need on the Marine Environment - covering the latest news and updates on marine science and wildlife, weather and climate, power from the sea and Ireland's coastal regions and communities - the place to be is Afloat.ie.

Coastal Notes

The Coastal Notes category covers a broad range of stories, events and developments that have an impact on Ireland's coastal regions and communities, whose lives and livelihoods are directly linked with the sea and Ireland's coastal waters.

Topics covered in Coastal Notes can be as varied as the rare finding of sea-life creatures, an historic shipwreck with secrets to tell, or even a trawler's net caught hauling much more than just fish.

Other angles focusing the attention of Coastal Notes are Ireland's maritime museums, which are of national importance to maintaining access and knowledge of our nautical heritage, and those who harvest the sea using small boats based in harbours where infrastructure and safety pose an issue, plying their trade along the rugged wild western seaboard.

Coastal Notes tells the stories that are arguably as varied as the environment they come from, and which shape people's interaction with the natural world and our relationship with the sea.

Marine Wildlife

One of the greatest memories of any day spent boating around the Irish coast is an encounter with Marine Wildlife. It's a thrill for young and old to witness seabirds, seals, dolphins and whales right there in their own habitat. And as boaters fortunate enough to have experienced it will testify, even spotting a distant dorsal fin can be the highlight of any day afloat. Was that a porpoise? Was it a whale? No matter how brief the glimpse, it's a privilege to share the seas with Irish marine wildlife.

Thanks to our location in the North Atlantic, there appears to be no shortage of marine life to observe. From whales to dolphins, seals, sharks and other ocean animals, the Marine Wildlife category documents the most interesting accounts around our shores. And we're keen to receive your observations, your photos, links and video clips, too!

Also valuable is the unique perspective of all those who go afloat, from coastal sailing to sea angling to inshore kayaking to offshore yacht racing, as what they encounter can be of great importance to organisations such as the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). Thanks to their work we now know we share the seas with dozens of species who also call Ireland home. But as impressive as the list is, the experts believe there are still gaps in our knowledge. Next time you are out on the ocean waves, keep a sharp look out!

Weather

As an island in the North Atlantic, Ireland's fate is decided by Weather more so than many other European countries. When storm-force winds race across the Irish Sea, ferry and shipping services are cut off, disrupting our economy. When swollen waves crash on our shores, communities are flooded and fishermen brace for impact - both to their vessels and to their livelihoods.

Keeping abreast of the weather, therefore, is as important to leisure cruisers and fishing crews alike - for whom a small craft warning can mean the difference between life and death - as it is to the communities lining the coast, where timely weather alerts can help protect homes and lives.

Weather affects us all, and Afloat.ie will keep you informed on the hows and the whys.

Marine Science

Perhaps it's the work of the Irish research vessels RV Celtic Explorer and RV Celtic Voyager out in the Atlantic Ocean that best highlights the essential nature of Marine Science for the future growth of Ireland's emerging 'blue economy'.

From marine research to development and sustainable management, Ireland is developing a strong and well-deserved reputation as an emerging centre of excellence. Whether it's Wavebob ocean energy technology to aquaculture to weather buoys and oil exploration, the Marine Science category documents the work of Irish marine scientists and researchers and how they have secured prominent roles in many European and international marine science bodies.

Power From The Sea

The message from the experts is clear: offshore wind and wave energy is the future. And as Ireland looks towards the potential of the renewable energy sector, generating Power From The Sea will become a greater priority in the State's 'blue growth' strategy.

Developments and activities in existing and planned projects in the pipeline from the wind and wave renewables sector, and those of the energy exploration industry, point to the future of energy requirements for the whole world, not just in Ireland. And that's not to mention the supplementary industries that sea power projects can support in coastal communities.

Irish ports are already in a good position to capitalise on investments in offshore renewable energy services. And Power From The Sea can even be good for marine wildlife if done properly.

Aside from the green sector, our coastal waters also hold a wealth of oil and gas resources that numerous prospectors are hoping to exploit, even if people in coastal and island areas are as yet unsure of the potential benefits or pitfalls for their communities.

Changing Ocean Climate

Our ocean and climate are inextricably linked - the ocean plays a crucial role in the global climate system in a number of ways. These include absorbing excess heat from the atmosphere and absorbing 30 per cent of the carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere by human activity. But our marine ecosystems are coming under increasing pressure due to climate change.

The Marine Institute, with its national and international partners, works to observe and understand how our ocean is changing and analyses, models and projects the impacts of our changing oceans. Advice and forecasting projections of our changing oceans and climate are essential to create effective policies and management decisions to safeguard our ocean.

Dr Paul Connolly, CEO of the Marine Institute, said, “Our ocean is fundamental to life on earth and affects so many facets of our everyday activities. One of the greatest challenges we face as a society is that of our changing climate. The strong international collaborations that the Marine Institute has built up over decades facilitates a shared focusing on our changing ocean climate and developing new and enhanced ways of monitoring it and tracking changes over time.

“Our knowledge and services help us to observe these patterns of change and identify the steps to safeguard our marine ecosystems for future generations.”

The Marine Institute’s annual ocean climate research survey, which has been running since 2004, facilitates long term monitoring of the deep water environment to the west of Ireland. This repeat survey, which takes place on board RV Celtic Explorer, enables scientists to establish baseline oceanic conditions in Irish waters that can be used as a benchmark for future changes.

Scientists collect data on temperature, salinity, water currents, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the Atlantic Ocean. This high quality oceanographic data contributes to the Atlantic Ocean Observing System. Physical oceanographic data from the survey is submitted to the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and, in addition, the survey contributes to national research such as the VOCAB ocean acidification and biogeochemistry project, the ‘Clean Atlantic’ project on marine litter and the A4 marine climate change project.

Dr Caroline Cusack, who co-ordinates scientific activities on board the RV Celtic Explorer for the annual survey, said, “The generation of long-term series to monitor ocean climate is vital to allow us understand the likely impact of future changes in ocean climate on ecosystems and other marine resources.”

Other activities during the survey in 2019 included the deployment of oceanographic gliders, two Argo floats (Ireland’s contribution to EuroArgo) and four surface drifters (Interreg Atlantic Area Clean Atlantic project). The new Argo floats have the capacity to measure dissolved ocean and biogeochemical parameters from the ocean surface down to a depth of 2,000 metres continuously for up to four years, providing important information as to the health of our oceans.

During the 2019 survey, the RV Celtic Explorer retrieved a string of oceanographic sensors from the deep ocean at an adjacent subsurface moored station and deployed a replacement M6 weather buoy, as part of the Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network (IMDBON).

Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the IMDBON is managed by the Marine Institute in collaboration with Met Éireann and is designed to improve weather forecasts and safety at sea around Ireland. The data buoys have instruments which collect weather and ocean data including wind speed and direction, pressure, air and sea surface temperature and wave statistics. This data provides vital information for weather forecasts, shipping bulletins, gale and swell warnings as well as data for general public information and research.

“It is only in the last 20 years, meteorologists and climatologists have really began to understood the pivotal role the ocean plays in determining our climate and weather,” said Evelyn Cusack, Head of Forecasting at Met Éireann. “The real-time information provided by the Irish data buoy network is particularly important for our mariners and rescue services. The M6 data buoy in the Atlantic provides vital information on swell waves generated by Atlantic storms. Even though the weather and winds may be calm around our shores, there could be some very high swells coming in from Atlantic storms.”