Kilkeel coastguard

06/06/2026

At 2357hrs on Friday June 5th the team were tasked along with our flank station Newcastle Coastguard to reports of a boat aground with 1 person on board at St John’s lighthouse.

As we arrived on scene Belfast Coastguard had made us aware that there were in fact two vessels travelling together in distress.

A search of the area was out launched by land and by sea with both Kilkeel and Newcastle Lifeboats.

Newcastle Lifeboat located the first casualty vessel, taking the casualty back to Newcastle boathouse where shore supported by CRT’s carried out casualty care before handing over to NIAS.

Meanwhile, Kilkeel Lifeboat successfully located the second casualty vessel, east of St John’s lighthouse, assumed tow and towed the vessel back to Kilkeel harbour after a lengthy tow in, while providing casualty careWe would like to congratulate all teams tonight and a special mention to the crew of Kilkeel Lifeboat on their first Official shout from goong online with their new Shannon Class Lifeboat.

The team stood down at 0512hrs and returned to base.

27/05/2026

Please be careful around water in the heat wave. Water is a killer and doesn’t have any sympathy.
If you see anyone in difficulties on the water no matter where dial 999.
Try to get the person/s to lie on there back and float.
If you can load what 3 words on your phone and hopefully you can share your exact location to the emergency services which will speed up a response to your location
What3Words https://share.google/rTO5equrRqWR7dcGn

The deaths prompted the RNLI to warn of the "very real risk" of swimming in open water - as Tuesday saw the hottest ever May day recorded.

21/05/2026

The team were tasked this morning by Belfast Coastguard to support our colleagues Police Newry, Mourne & Down with an ongoing incident in Kilkeel.

There will be no further details.

Thoughts are with all those involved.

Library Photo

15/05/2026

Last night saw us take advantage of the longer bright evenings with some training with our SCOO Ed, Ed took us through the paces with some ropework skills in the rock armour in Newcastle. With two scenarios simulating trapped persons with exaggerated depth in the holes.

Kilkeel 03 getting ready for tech assessments later in the year practising some casualty extraction techniques.

Pairing up with our flank team Newcastle Coastguard ensures that we can effectively merge as one team when needed to help our local community in South Down.

28/04/2026

Kilkeel National Fishing Remembrance Day service details below.

14/04/2026

At 1156hrs on April 11th the team were tasked to reports of a car trapped on a beach below the highwater mark, after Police Newry, Mourne & Down reported to Belfast Coastguard.

The team were requested to gather more information for signs of pollution and any indications of further movement on the car.

Information was gathered and reported back to Belfast Coastguard.

The team then returned to base.

14/04/2026

On March 30th at 2239hrs the team were tasked to a distress beacon being activated in the bay off Kilkeel Harbour.

Kilkeel RNLI was requested with a shoreline coastal search underway by the team at all access points from Carlingford Lough to the Bloody Bridge in Newcastle.

HM Coastguard fixed wing aircraft R226 from Prestwick was tasked by Belfast Coastguard to assist in the search.

After a thorough search of the area from all assets the team were stood down at 0054hrs and returned to base.

This is the second time within a number of weeks that this particular distress beacon has initiated quite substantial searches.

Library photo.

01/04/2026

The team welcomed the arrival of the first in the uk rapid response CRB ( Coastguard Rescue Bike ).

This strategic decision has been made to enable an incident commander to be dispatched from our area to a major incident ahead of the CRT’s arrival.

This will only bolster the operational area’s capabilities.

Two of the team have undergone significant training with the bike going live on April 1st.

Only a fool could turn this opportunity down…

03/01/2026

Kilkeel CRT tasked a short time ago.

01/01/2026

At 0400hrs on January 1st 2026 the team were tasked along with Newcastle CRT by Belfast Coastguard to support Police Newry, Mourne & Down with reports of a high risk missing person.

While travelling to scene Kilkeel Alpha requested the launch of Newcastle RNLI.

While on scene L&MPS procedure was deployed with two search teams carrying out “hasty” searches of the Harbour area across the promenade to the Slieve Donard Hotel, with Newcastle Lifeboat carrying out a search just off the shore.

Additional support teams Bangor Coastguard Rescue Team and Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team were requested to provide more resource on foot along with R199 from Prestwick.

As searches were ongoing along with Police K9 teams welcome news came through that the missing person had been located safe well outside our search area.

All teams stood down and returned to base at 0700hrs.

We would like to note a well done to Newcastle RNLI on the first shout on their new Atlantic 85, we wish them all the best with it.