Major Search and Rescue training exercise to take place on the Foyle

A number of events of great maritime interest on the Foyle will be visible to the public from the seafront in Moville and Greencastle on the weekend of Saturday, July 16th and Sunday, July 17th.
Sligo­based Sikorsky, Rescue 118, operating with Greencastle Units 2 RIBs.Sligo­based Sikorsky, Rescue 118, operating with Greencastle Units 2 RIBs.
Sligo­based Sikorsky, Rescue 118, operating with Greencastle Units 2 RIBs.

On Saturday, a major Search and Rescue training exercise will be taking place in Moville and in

Moville Bay.

SAREX 2016 will see units of all the maritime rescue services training together on land and wateraround Moville.

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The exercise will commence at 11am with a mud rescue exercise by HM Coastguard, Northern Ireland, on the shore at the Bay Field. The Greencastle Unit of the Irish Coast Guard will becarrying out a series of cliff rescue exercises on the rocks in front of St Eugene’s Hall.

At 1.25pm the Irish Coast Guard Sikorsky S92 SAR helicopter will arrive on scene at Moville, from Sligo, followed by the Irish Naval Service’s Coastal Patrol Vessel, LE “Orla”. LE “Orla” will anchor off Moville and commence a series of exercises with the Greencastle CG Unit RIB’s and theSikorsky helicopter, Rescue 118.

At 1410 the Irish Air Corps, CASA CN 925, maritime patrol plane will arrive on scene and conduct exercises with LE “Orla”. This will include low flying over Moville Bay as the plane drops liferafts to perceived survivors in the water. CASA and LE “Orla” will depart at 1430.

At 2.40pm Irish Water Safety’s Ballyshannon Beach Rescue Team and Foyle Search and Rescue RIB and Jet­skis will conduct various exercises and beach rescues at the beach between Inish Adventures and St Eugene’s Hall.

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At 3.15pm the BIM National Fishery College’s Training Vessel, “Lough Swilly” will simulate a fire onboard a trawler which forces the crew to abandon ship. The Greencastle CG Unit and LoughSwilly RNLI will respond to the fire on board and the new Shannon Class Lifeboat will arrive on scene at 3.30.

Casualties will be recovered from water and some will be lifted by helicopter for transfer to hospital. The helicopter will depart scene for Sligo at 4pm.

The exercise will finish with beach rescue and First Aid demonstrations by Donegal Beach Lifeguards and a pyrotechnic demonstration by RNLI and Irish Coast Guard.

The Irish Coast Guard Incident Control Vehicle will be based in the carpark opposite St Eugene’sHall and a full commentary on events at sea will start at 1.25pm. BIM Sea Safety training unit will also be in the carpark offering unbiased advice on sea safety equipment.

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There will be a bandstand in the carpark, with music by Ceolan over the lunch break, and a funfairwill be set up on the Green in front of Montgomery Terrace.

Sunday 17th will see the start of the last leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race offGreencastle at 6pm.

Twelve 0­foot yachts make up world’s largest matched fleet of ocean racing yachts. They havejust completed a round the world voyage of over 40, 000 nautical miles. After 10 days in Derrythey will be starting on the last leg of the race to Den Helder, Holland.

The yachts will arrive downriver from Derry and begin gathering for the race start off Greencastle giving spectators the opportunity to see these boats under sail.

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The fun starts with the Cavanagh Bros on stage from 3.00pm with race commentary starting at 5.30pm.

There will be a funfair in the village and the fun and music will continue after the yachts have gone.

Parking restrictions will be in place.

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