#RESCUE - Brave volunteers from the Baltimore RNLI saved the day when they jumped aboard a runaway speedboat heading for a busy pier last Friday.

As the Irish Examiner reports, it was one of four dramatic rescues made by the West Cork lifeboat crew in a single 24-hour period.

Pat Collins and Tadhg Collins were the plucky duo who attempted the daring feat from their inflatable boarding boat launched from the all-weather lifeboat.

They manoeuvred their boat close enough to the runaway RIB - which was circling at speeds of up to 20 knots ever closer to the pier after its pilot and passenger were thrown overboard - to allow Tadgh to leap on board and turn down the engines.

The RIB's crew were unharmed in the incident, swimming away and finding shelter on a ketch anchored at Sherkin Island.

Baltimore's busy 24 hours continued with call-outs from three yachts during Saturday's force 7 easterly winds.

The Irish Examiner has more on the story HERE.

#RESCUE - Two divers reported missing in Dublin Bay this morning have been rescued by the RNLI lifeboat from Dun Laoghaire.

The pair had been with a group diving off the Muglins Rock, close to Dalkey Island, but did not return to the surface as planned around 11.30am on Sunday 27 May.

The dive-boat coxswain alerted the Irish Coast Guard's Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (MRCC) in Dublin which requested the RNLI all-eather lifeboat launch to assist.

Also responding were the Naval Service vessel LE Aoife, the Irish Coast Guard's rescue helicopter from Dublin Airport and the Dun Laoghaire coastguard unit.

Some 30 minutes after the initial call, the lifeboat spotted the two casualties together on the surface. The divers had been swept a mile-and-a-half north of the original dive site by the incoming tide.

One of the lifeboat crew entered the water to assist with their equipment and air tanks before both were taken on board the lifeboat and brought to shore. Neither was injured in the incident.

"This incident could easily have been a tragedy," said Stephen Wynne, RNLI lifeboat operations manager at Dun Laoghaire. "Fortunately the correct procedure was followed in raising the alarm early enough."

#RNLI – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat was launched to investigate a possible missing person/s after a lakeboat was found adrift towards the northern end of the lake this afternoon.  On the return journey, the lifeboat was diverted to Scarriff Bay to assist a person in difficulty on board a 32ft crusier in Scarriff Bay, at the southwestern end of the lake.

At 15.20hrs on Friday May 18, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard, to investigate a possible missing person/s following the discovery of a lakeboat adrift towards the northern end of the lake.  (It is the Dapping Season and there are many fishermen and lakeboats afloat at present.)  At 14.38hrs, the lifeboat was launched with Helm Eleanor Hooker, Peter Clarke and Gerry O'Neill onboard.  Winds were Northerly, Force 2-3, visibility was good.

The lifeboat arrived on scene at 16.04hrs and was met by the fisherman who had discovered the boat adtrift.  The crusier Stormy Monday, was near the area, and its skipper, very kindly, offered to remain on standby and assist if required.  The found lakeboat had an engine attached, a full fuel tank and a spare tank of fuel on board, there was no fishing tackle or any signs of ownership. As the lifeboat was commencing a search of the area, they were informed by Valentia Coast Guard, that the owner had been located and that the boat had slipped its moorings.  The lakeboat was driven by an RNLI volunteer to Portumna and returned to its owner.

17.15hrs On its homeward journey, Valentia Coast Guard diverted the RNLI lifeboat to Scarriff Bay, at the southwestern end of the lake, to assist a person in difficulty on board a 32ft cruiser.  The wind had veered northeasterly and was blowing Force 4. Visibility was fair to good, with frequent squally showers.  The lifeboat was alongside the crusier at 17.34hrs.  There was an elderly person onboard and in some distress; his vessel had hit a rock and suffered considerable damage to its propeller. The person was reassured by the lifeboat crew. The boat wasn't holed and with an RNLI crew member onboard, was towed to its home marina up the Scarriff river.  The boat was tied safely alongside at 18.18hrs. The person was met by friends, who were going to look after him for the evening.

The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 19.15hrs.

#RNLI – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat rescued two people on board a sinking 40ft vessel holed after it hit rocks yesterday.

At 16.44hrs the lifeboat launched following a request by Valentia Coast Guard. The lifeboat with helm Eleanor Hooker, Lian Knight and Ben Ronayne on board located the vessel inside Bonaveen Point in Cloondavaun Bay, at the northern end of the lake on the Galway shore. Winds were West South West, Force 2-3 with good visibility.

The Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue Helicopter was scrambled from Shannon to go to the scene.  Fergal Kearney, the Lifeboat Deputy Launching Authority was close by and arranged to carry two large bore marine pumps to the vessel.  Marine Engineer Eammon Egan and Kevin Hynes launched from Portumna to assist, as did Mr. Sullivan from Sullivan Marina.

The lifeboat arrived on scene at 17.02hrs.  The two persons on board were unharmed but had readied their RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) in case they had to abandon ship.

Once it was established that the two pumps were effectively emptying the vessel of water, the S&R Helicopter circling overhead was stood down by Valentia Coast Guard.  As the crusier was being emptied of water it began to drift into dangerous water.

At 17.25hrs, with the pumps running, an RNLI crew member, two engineers and the two persons onboard, the lifeboat took the cruiser under tow to the Sullivan's Marina close by, where the vessel was lifted out of the water.

The lifeboat returned to Station and was ready for service at again 1t 18.30hrs

#RNLI – Within the past seven days crew from RNLI Bangor Lifeboat have launched twice to assist crews aboard two stricken vessels.

On Thursday 3rd May at 10.40pm Belfast Coastguard received information from a concerned member of the public that a red flare had been observed north of Groomsport. Volunteer crew quickly assembled and launched RNLI Bangor Lifeboat which proceeded at full speed to the Groomsport area. A search pattern was quickly established, thankfully nothing was found. It was reported that a number of unused sky lanterns had been found and it's believed that one of these lanterns could have raised the alarm. While completing the search crew onboard Bangor Lifeboat received a radio call from Belfast Coastguard. A 35ft commercial fishing vessel with 2 people onboard had experienced engine failure 1½ mile south of Blackhead Lighthouse. Relatively calm sea conditions allowed Bangor Lifeboat to proceed at full speed to the stricken vessel. Volunteer lifeboat crew rigged a tow line and towed the fishing boat to the safety of Bangor Harbour.

On Monday 7th May at 11.30am volunteer RNLI crew were alerted by rescue pager that a 29ft yacht with 1 person onboard had difficulty in 'making way' and required assistance. Belfast Coastguard gave the vessels location as 1 nautical miles north of Helens Bay. Bangor Lifeboat was launched and proceeded at full speed to the stricken vessel. Volunteer lifeboat crew rigged a tow line and towed the yacht to the safety of Bangor Marina

Peter Scott, RNLI volunteer helmsman at Bangor Lifeboat Station took this opportunity to stress five very important sea safety tips for anyone going afloat. He said. 'Always wear a lifejacket, secondly check your engine and fuel, thirdly tell others where you are going, fourthly carry some means of calling for help and finally always check the weather and tides' He added 'We're happy that the crews aboard both vessels are now safely ashore'.

#RNLI – Lifeboat crew with Larne RNLI launched their all weather lifeboat yesterday (Wednesday 2 May 2012) following reports that a nine metre yacht was in difficulty east of Garron Point, off County Antrim.  One of the crew was reported incapacitated due to severe sea sickness and the skipper was unable to manage the vessel single handed.

The lifeboat was launched at 1.30pm along with the inshore lifeboat from Red Bay RNLI.  They were on scene an hour later and immediately recovered the ill woman onboard the lifeboat.  The lifeboat crew administered first aid and rehydrated the casualty before returning to Glenarm where the woman was then transferred to a waiting ambulance to receive further medical attention.

Red Bay RNLI then took the vessel under tow with the remaining crewmember onboard and proceeded to Glenarm marina.

Commenting on the rescue operation Larne RNLI mechanic Rab Rice said, "Unfortunately this woman was suffering from a very severe form of seasickness and as such was incapacitated onboard the yacht.  Her condition was pretty severe and she was in need of medical attention.  Our priority was to recover her off the yacht, make her comfortable and bring her back to shore.  Our colleagues in Red Bay were then able to take the vessel under tow and bring the skipper home."

#RESCUE - The Galway Independent reports that two men were rescued by the Galway RNLI lifeboat on Sunday when their boat got into difficulties in Galway Bay.

The yacht was crossing from Barna to Spiddal when it suffered and engine failure and began to drift in the stormy weather conditions that have battered the west coast in recent days.

Lifeboat volunteers were notified by the Irish Coast Guard and located the 22-ft yacht two miles from Barna. Both crew and boat were returned to their home port, and no injuries were reported.

#RESCUE – Howth RNLI's All-Weather Lifeboat and Inshore Lifeboat launched yesterday to assist a person in the water who had got into difficulty on Portmarnock Beach in north Dublin.

The Lifeboat Crews launched and the inshore lifeboat was on scene in eight minutes where Rescue helicopter 116 with standing by. The casualty was recovered from the water and taken onto the lifeboat with the assistance of the lifeboat crew. The lifeboat was met at Portmarnock beach by Dublin Fire Brigade Ambulance and Gardai.

#LIFEBOAT – Volunteer lifeboat crew took to Dublin's Grafton Street to launch the RNLI's MAYDAY campaign in Ireland, which is proudly supported by John West. The charity is asking the public to get behind its lifeboat crews in Ireland by donating on 1 May or by holding their own fundraising event.

Funds raised on MAYDAY will go towards the training of volunteer lifeboat crews and the operation of RNLI lifeboats across Ireland.

Lifeboat crew and their D-class inshore lifeboat, received a warm reception from the public on Grafton Street. Crewmembers Sharon Pollock from Newcastle, County Down, Joss Walsh, Luke Malcolm and Ian Martin from Howth all volunteer for the RNLI. Being a lifeboat volunteer means they must wear a pager full time to alert them when there is a Mayday emergency call, night or day. It means dropping everything, leaving the workplace, their families or the comfort of their beds to launch the lifeboat and assist those in trouble at sea, whatever the conditions.

Sharon Pollock (31) has been a volunteer lifeboat crewmember for the past eleven years. 'I wanted to join the lifeboat crew since I was a little girl. Every Mayday call is different. Saving a life at sea is hugely rewarding, as it's often carried out in challenging conditions. Sadly we are faced with tragedies too and returning a loved one to their family is important part of the work the RNLI do.'

Commenting on the Mayday campaign RNLI Corporate Partnerships Manager Michelle Noone said, 'We are delighted to have the support of John West for the RNLI's first MAYDAY in 2012. John West know firsthand the reality of the power of the sea, and fully support and appreciate the work the RNLI do in saving lives every day throughout Ireland. We would like to thank them for their wonderful support.'

John West MD Brendan Murphy said: 'We have worked closely with the RNLI fundraising team to come up with the MAYDAY initiative. We are hoping that 1 May will become synonymous with Irish people playing their part in saving lives at sea. We appreciate any donations that are made to the RNLI, no matter how small.'

The collection will take place on Tuesday 1 May. RNLI collectors will be out in force raising funds. Every cent the RNLI receive will help train and equip the lifeboat volunteers.

For details and information on how to donate go to www.mayday.rnli.org. or call 01 895 1837

#RESCUE – Lifeboat crew with Red Bay RNLI in County Antrim were involved in a dramatic cliff rescue last night (Saturday 14 April 2012) when a man out walking on Fair Head in Antrim lost his footing, falling thirty feet and sustaining multiple injuries.

The lifeboat launched at 5.15pm on Saturday evening to a report of a walker injured on the cliffs.  Conditions in the area hampered the lifeboat going in too close to the rocks with a heavy sea swell present.  The lifeboat crew called for assistance and the Irish Coast Guard helicopter from Sligo was called to the scene.

Two volunteer lifeboat crew swam from the lifeboat to the rocks and made their way up to the casualty.  He was suffering from a number of injuries and in considerable pain.  The lifeboat crew administered oxygen and first aid and made the man as comfortable as possible while waiting for the Coast Guard helicopter.

The Red Bay lifeboat crew attend the casualty

The lifeboat volunteers stayed with the casualty for two hours and assisted the Coast Guard team who secured him onto a stretcher and winched him up to the helicopter for transfer to Coleraine Hospital.

Commenting on the callout Red Bay RNLI Paddy McLaughlin said, "Under the circumstances the man was extremely lucky he managed to raise the alarm for help.  No one knew where he was and the area has very poor mobile coverage.  First aid is an important part of lifeboat crew training and it played a vital role in this callout.  "