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Mock drill for trainee fishermen 16.02.10
PEOPLE in Greencastle
would be forgiven for thinking there had been a
full-blown air and sea rescue mission in Lough Foyle
last week.
The Coast Guard helicopter was seen roaring overhead
before coming to a hovering stop over a small
fishing boat not far from the harbour. The
helicopter hovered over the vessel for nearly ten
minutes before the boat and its crew happily steamed
away.
Malin Head Coast Guard Station watch officer, Dara
O'Malley Daly, said the manoeuvre was all part of a
training exercise for student seafarers. |
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"It was a safety
exercise between the Irish Coast Guard helicopter
from Sligo and trainees from the National Fisheries
College in Greencastle who were on board their boat
'Lough Swilly'," he said.
"These safety training exercises are designed to |
help trainees learn
what to do if there is an accident on board a vessel
or if a boat and its crew get into difficulty out at
sea."
The exercise included a rescue drill and mock
winching to safety of a crewman from the 'Lough
Swilly'. Mr O’Malley Daly also said the importance
of wearing lifejackets at sea had to be continually
stressed. “We go around the schools giving sea
safety talks and we always emphasise the importance
of wearing lifejackets. The more young people hear
that message, the more likely they are to remember
it when they go out to sea,” he added.
The BIM National Fisheries College is located in the
centre of Greencastle. It is a state-of-the art
training centre for people seeking careers in
commercial fishing, on merchant ships and in the
processing and aquaculture industries.
As well as its fishing vessel, the college is fitted
with a simulated bridge deck, engineering and
aquaculture training facilities, a reference library
and study area. |
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