dún laoghaire harbour company

Lifeboat crew to welcome visitors at annual Open Day

Visitors to RNLI at Dun Laoghaire will be able to view the new inshore
lifeboat (ILB) that recently arrived when the station holds its annual open
day on Saturday 31st July 2010 (11am to 5pm). For the first time, the
recently-formed Sea Safety team will also be on hand to offer advice to
visitors on how best to prepare for trips afloat and boating activities.

Equipment demonstrations and model boat displays will also be part of the
attractions including the station’s All-Weather lifeboat (ALB).
Crew-members, who operate on a fully-voluntary basis will be demonstrating
various items of rescue equipment and the ALB " Anna Livia" will be
alongside offering close-up views of this €2 million rescue craft.

There are two lifeboats at Dun Laoghaire, a Trent class ALB and a D-Class
ILB (Inshore lifeboat) of the new IB1-type that was recently delivered to
the 207-year old station and is based in the nearby historic boathouse at
the East Pier. This lifeboat, named ‘Realt Na Mara’ , was funded by the
genorisity of a family in Dublin.

The station’s shop selling souvenirs and other lifeboat-related items will
also be open, helping to raise funds for the voluntary service. The Sea
Safety team, part of the RNLI’s stated aim of improving safety at sea
through education and information can also take bookings for the free ‘Sea
Check’ service that assists boat-owners.

The Dun Laoghaire RNLI station is one of 43 based in the Ireland division
that operate 55 lifeboats that launched on 976 occasions and rescued 1,008
people in 2009. Dun Laoghaire is regularly amongst the busiest and last
year launched on 68 occasions and rescued 92 people.

For more information, please visit http://www.dunlaoghaire-lifeboat.ie

For further information, please contact:
David Branigan (Lifeboat Press Officer - Dun Laoghaire) 086 253 7782