Chinese lanterns hampering coast guard’s work

THE Dublin coastal search and rescue unit has warned
against the use of Chinese lanterns amid fears they could be a serious
impediment to its work.

Howth Coast Guard has expressed concern that rescue
teams might not be able to respond to genuine emergencies if crews’ precious
time is taken up investigating false alarms caused by the lanterns.

The warning was issued after rescue teams and the
coast guard helicopter were dispatched recently to investigate two reported
sightings of distress flares, which turned out to be celebratory lanterns
drifting over the coast.

Concerned members of the public living in the vicinity
of Clontarf phoned 999 with reported sightings of flares at 10pm on Saturday,
February 18 and again on Sunday, February 26 at approximately 8.30pm.

At least five volunteers with Howth Coast Guard were
immediately paged and a crew of four more personnel were on board the
helicopter that scanned the coast on February 18.

The teams were stood down after they spent over an
hour searching the shoreline from Dublin Port to Malahide for any sign of a
seafarer in distress.

Chinese lanterns, which are readily available in shops
and supermarkets, are becoming an increasing feature at weddings and parties.

The flying lanterns are set alight and released into
the night sky where they can rise to over a mile in height and for a period of
over 20 minutes when the flare or propellant expires.

Despite their novelty value, they are proving to be a
potentially dangerous nuisance, especially when released near the coast.

Fergus Cooney of Howth Coast Guard explained how the
use and sightings of Chinese lanterns has become an increasing problem for them
over the last three years.

“The lanterns look for all intents and purposes like
red distress signals over the waterline,

? Mr Cooney told Northside People.

“It’s understandable and we are very grateful that
members of the public are reporting any sightings, and we would encourage
people to keep doing so as there is always a chance that it is a distress flare
indicating a genuine emergency.

“It
could be a distress signal from a kite surfer caught in the wind and dragged
out to sea or a kayaker or sailing boat in trouble.

“We
can’t afford to take any chances and our biggest fear from the increasing use
of these lanterns is that people will become complacent.

?

Volunteers
from Howth Coast Guard are tasked to investigate all emergency calls and
sightings. They respond to as many as 70 call-outs a year.

It
is feared that investigating false alarms such as the sightings of Chinese
lanterns could hamper the coast guard’s response to genuine emergencies.

“The
problem is that a call to attend to a genuine emergency could come in when we
have a team out investigating a sighting that turns out to be lantern,

? Mr
Cooney said.

“It
would inevitably delay our response time which could make all the difference to
the person or people in need of our help.

?

Calls
to 999 are redirected to the coast guard where appropriate. Howth Coast Guard
is notified of any sightings or emergencies on or off the coastline north of
the Liffey from Dublin Port to Malahide. Volunteers are then notified through a
pager system.

The
teams are assisted by Dublin Port, which can radio boats moored off the coast
to confirm any sightings of flares of vessels in distress.

Howth
Coast Guard is calling on people who are intending to use Chinese lanterns to
notify them beforehand.

“Obviously
we would prefer people, especially those living by the coast, not to set off
these lanterns but if they still want to, we would ask that they contact the
coast guard prior to setting them off,

? Mr Cooney added.