International News

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority requested Qantas' help last week after a search and rescue aircraft found a raft drifting some 110 miles off the coast of Esperance.

They requested the diversion of the aircraft because there was going to be a gap between when the fixed-wing (rescue) aircraft had to leave the scene and a RAAF Hercules was going to be on scene and they didn't want to lose sight of the life-raft.

Qantas said Flight 475 carrying 226 passengers from Sydney to Perth was briefly diverted to monitor the life-raft. "The Hercules ended up making it there before we did so we weren't required in the end," a Qantas spokeswoman told Australian news outlets.

Three fishermen were later rescued from the life raft.

Alex Bond was delivering a yacht from Hawaii to Australia when he became involved in an international rescue mission to save 24 starving islanders on Kanton Island.

Alex and his crew had anchored off Kanton Island when they came across the 14 adults and 10 children who had been living on fish and coconuts for months.

Alex did what any sailor would do, got on to the UK Coastguard in Falmouth thousands of miles away. The UK Coastguards contacted their US counterparts to arrange an emergency supply of food.

Mark Thomas, watch manager at Falmouth coastguards, is quoted on the BBC News website: "Mr Bond called us to say the islanders were starving.

"They had not had any food for a number of months and had been living off coconuts and fish.

"He had given them as much food as he could spare, but the situation was quite dire."

Coastguard teams from around Ireland are travelling to Mulroy this weekend for the annual Joint Search and Rescue (JSAR) competition.

The Coastguard teams will be assessed on their ability to complete a number of search and rescue based scenarios. These will include leadership; search planning; chart work; communications; compass work, first aid, helicopter landing procedures and rope work.

According to their website;

Twelve team members from each division (Malin, Valentia, Dublin and Northern Ireland) compete in the events. Each of the four-person teams are either competing on behalf of their division, or are part of an inter-divisional (North-South) team, trying to secure one of the four awards up for grabs at this year's games. There will be two teams per Division (e.g. Valentia A and Valentia B, made up of four people from that Division) and 4 mixed team with one person from each Division making up the teams. 

During the competitions the 48 competitors, will be faced with a range of emergency situations which they may encounter throughout their service and some with a more light hearted twist on team work and communications.

The Captain Kirwan Cup will be awarded to the best overall team; the JSAR Shield will be presented to the best divisional team; the Canadian Award will be presented to the best inter-divisional team and the fourth award, a silver cup, will be awarded to the competitor who has exhibited the best leadership skills.

The competition takes place in Mulroy Bay, Co Donegal on the 7th -9th May 2010.

It is open to the public and promises to be a fun weekend. Previous JSAR games have been held in Greencastle, Coleraine, Howth, and Ballybunnion.

For more information visit their website www.jsar.ie

The Howth Coast Guard Cliff Rescue Team are hosting their second annual 1,500 meter sea swim race for the Dublin Emergency Services this July. 

The Swim is a 1,500 metres Sea Swim in Howth and Howth Coastguard state that wetsuits are allowed and highly recommended!

There are perpetual trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place and a Team Trophy Award. Also kindly donated by Deer Park Hotel, there will be Free Dinner for Two and a bottle of wine for the winners.

This year there will also be a trophy for the First Member of the Coast Guard or RNLI home. Apparently this has nothing to do with the fact they didn't come within a mile of winning anything last year!

Last year Dublin Fire Brigade raced home with 1st and 2nd place, the Gardai picked up 3rd place, first female and were just 2 seconds ahead of the Fire Brigade to win the overall Best Team award. The swim is open to both male and female members of the emergency services. There will be a charity collection on the day for the R.N.L.I.

Swim Date Tuesday 2oth July 2010.

Registration Time: 7pm - 7.30pm

Swim Start: 7.45 Sharp.

Pictured at the announcement of the 2010 Emergency Services Sea Swim are Keith Plummer (Howth Coast Guard Cliff Rescue), Rachael Lee (Dublin Fire Brigade, Phibsboro Station), Karen McGowan (A&E, Beaumont Hospital), Tom Ryan, (Howth RNLI Lifeboat) and Dave Campbell (Gardai, Pearse Street)