Games help coastguards search for closer links

Coastguard units from around the country have forged closer working and training links after the search and rescue world’s equivalent of the Olympics.

The seventh Joint Search and Rescue competition between the Irish Coast Guard and HM Coastguard Northern Ireland was staged in Youghal, Co Cork, over the weekend.

Twelve team members from each of the divisions — Dublin, Malin, Valentia and HM Coastguard Northern Ireland — competed in a range of coastguard skills including leadership, search planning and coordination both on water and ashore; rescue techniques, chart work, knots, communications, compass work, and salvage pump operations.