About Us

The Safety on the water initiative was set up by the Marine Safety Working Group. The aim of the group is to promote water safety. The group is made up of a number of organisations representing statutory bodies, search & rescue organisations and water users.

The Marine Safety Communications Sub Group (MSCSG), led by the Coast Guard, is a collaboration between BIM, Coast Guard, Irish Sailing, RNLI and Water Safety Ireland. The purpose of the group is to coordinate safety messages between stakeholders in maritime safety, targeting evidence based problem areas and high risk activities. Work is guided by statistical evidence on water based incidents, utilising the Safety on The Water website and other print and electronic media to highlight key messages. Other organisations at the discretion of the Chair may be invited to participate in areas that are relevant to their areas of interest.

The Maritime Safety Strategy published in April 2015 outlines the role of the Marine Safety Working Group. MSWG established a sub group to be known as the Marine Safety Communications Sub Group (MSCSG).

The group is a sub group of the MSWG and is to be known as the MSCSG. MSCSG is to consist of representatives of:

• Irish Coast Guard. (IRCG) — Chair
• Bord lascaigh Mhara (BIM)
• Irish Sailing (ISA)
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
• Water Safety Ireland. (WSI)
• Commissioner of Irish Lights (CIL)
• Met Éireann
• Other organisations at the discretion of the Chair may be invited to participate in areas to that are relevant to their areas of interest

The purpose of the group is to coordinate safety messages between stakeholders in maritime safety, targeting evidence based problem areas and high risk activities. The group shall be guided by statistical evidence on water based incidents. MSCSG shall develop an annual business plan setting out key activities being carried out by the member organisations in order to coordinate and optimise the efforts of the participating organisations. The group shall utilise the Safety on The Water website and other print and electronic media to highlight key messages. The group shall arrange for the publication and promotion of key messages, posters, booklets, and other material pertaining to marine safety and prevention of loss at life at sea and inland waterways. The group shall manage a SOTW website.

The Marine Safety Working Group (MSWG) was established in 1996 under the initiative of the then Minister for the Marine. The aim of the MSWG is to use its collective expertise of various professional and amateur bodies to create and communicate marine safety information and messages, particularly to the recreational user, and to endeavour to reduce accidents and to prevent the loss of life on Irish Waters.

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