Dublin Port Company reminds public to think water safety ahead of Bank Holiday

2 June 2022

Half of the Irish public say they are not attuned to water safety

Dublin Port Company (DPC) has today reminded the public to think water safety ahead of the Bank Holiday, with sunny weather expected and an increase in leisure users on the water. Last month, the Port launched a new water safety awareness campaign, bringing comedy stars Darren Conway and Joe McGucken aboard to help spread the important message. The message comes after new research by the Port showed that half of the Irish public are not well attuned to water safety.

Darren Conway said; “A lot of the inexperienced people taking to the water and enjoying the good weather would be young lads like myself, so I’m more than happy to spread this message to people; have the craic, but be safe doing it!”. 

The survey undertaken by DPC indicated that only half of the respondents scored themselves as “well attuned” when they were asked about water safety. Swimming was the most popular water-based activity undertaken by the public, with 50% of participants having engaged in the activity, followed by Canoeing/Kayaking and Rowing as the next most popular pursuits. 

In the past number of years, DPC has continued to observe an increase in the number of people enjoying water-based sports and activities in the surroundings of Dublin Bay and Dublin Port, often for the first time. Unfortunately, these same surroundings can be potentially very dangerous, including the active, busy shipping lanes, where large ferries and cargo ships operate year-round. 

As part of the campaign, DPC has created a starter’s guide to basic safety etiquette on the water, including a map showing a simplified version of the shipping lanes at Dublin Port where permission to cross is mandatory for all leisure craft users. This information, and more, is available at www.dublinport.ie/water-safety. 

Dublin Port Harbour Master, Captain Michael McKenna, said; 

“With almost 50 ship arrivals or departures per day, the shipping lanes of Dublin Bay and the River Liffey are very busy, with multiple vessels often moving at the same time. These large ships must navigate within the deep water of the shipping lanes, so it is vital that smaller vessels keep clear and stay safe. 

We love to see the water enjoyed safely. By being aware of the risks, making safe decisions and having the appropriate safety equipment people can enjoy the magnificent environs of the river and bay.”