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Displaying items by tag: Arran

The Firth of Clyde ferry route to Brodick on Arran is set to resume today (10 February) - weather permitting - but sailings to the island will be departing to and from Troon Harbour, and not the usual port of Ardrossan.

Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) had made the switch to Troon earlier week with the MV Isle of Arran. The reason for the call to this port was due to the strong easterly winds ruling Ardrossan Harbour out of action until Monday.

These same strong wind conditions led the ferry operator however to cancel Troon sailings that were to take place on Thursday.

Services on the south-west Scotland route had remained out of action yesterday, Friday, but, if the weather is kind today, MV Isle of Arran will operate the main Brodick service out of Troon.

As there is a change of the mainland port, a shuttle bus service will be put on so to take passengers between Troon - where parking is limited - and Ardrossan.

The routine service from Ardrossan Harbour to Brodick should resume on Monday.

More from Ardrossan&Saltcoat Herald on the changing ferry scene.

As for the latest information on sailing updates from the CalMac website here.

Published in Ferry

The Coastguard co–ordinated a multi-agency response to rescue a paraglider who crashed into a cliff on the Isle Of Arran yesterday.

Belfast Coastguard was contacted at 4pm by Police Scotland for assistance after a mid air collision between two paragliders on the Isle Of Arran. One of the paragliders managed to land but the other crashed into a cliff at Catacal about half a mile inland, sustaining injuries and suspended in an inaccessible location on the cliff.

Belfast Coastguard sent the Arran Coastguard Rescue Team and requested the Royal Navy Rescue Helicopter from Prestwick to attend. Members of Arran Mountain Rescue team were transferred to the cliff top by the rescue helicopter and will attempt to recover the paraglider using cliff rescue equipment.

Arran Coastguard Rescue Team are providing the on scene communications between airbourne and land based responders. Police Scotland and Scottish Air Ambulance are also on scene.

Published in Coastguard
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Every Year Ireland's Search & Rescue Services deliver emergency life saving work on our seas, lakes and rivers.

Ireland's Water Safety Agencies work hard to provide us with the information we need to keep safe, while enjoying all manner of water based activities.

There's no better fun than getting out on the water but being afloat is a responsibility we all need to take seriously.

These pages detail the work of the rescue agencies. We also aim to promote safety standards among pleasure boaters, and by doing so, prevent, as far as possible, the loss of life at sea and on inland waters. If you have ideas for our pages we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected]

Think Before You Sink - Wear a Lifejacket

Accidents can happen fast on water and there may not be time to reach for a lifejacket in an emergency therefore don't just carry a lifejacket - wear it; if it's not on you, it can't save your life.

Irish Water Safety's Safe Boating Alert:

Check condition of boat and equipment, hull, engine, fuel, tools, torch.

Check the weather forecast for the area.

Check locally concerning dangerous currents and strong tides.

Do not drink alcohol while setting out or during your trip.

Carry an alternative means of propulsion e.g. sails and oars or motor and oars.

Carry a first aid kit on board and distress signals (at least two parachute distress rockets, two red hand flares).

Carry a fire extinguisher, a hand bailer or bucket with lanyard and an anchor with rope attached.

Carry marine radio or some means of communication with shore.

Do not overload the boat - this will make it unstable.

Do not set out unless accompanied by an experienced person.

Leave details of your planned trip with someone ashore - including departure and arrival times, description of boat, names of persons on board, etc.

Wear a Lifejacket at all times.

Keep an eye on the weather - seek shelter in good time.

In Marine Emergencies, call 999 or 112 and ask for Marine Rescue.

Lifejackets Checklist

Ensure Cartridges have not been punctured and are secured firmly.

Ensure all zips, buckles, fasteners and webbing straps are functioning correctly and adjusted to fit the user.

Check that fitted lights are operating correctly.

Ensure that Automatic Inflation devices are fully serviced and in date.

Check that the valve or lifejacket is not leaking.