2024 was one different busy and eventful yr for the Irish Coast Guard.
The yr in figures:
- The 44 Coast Guard Fashions had been mobilised on 1,154 separate occasions this yr;
- Coast Guard Helicopters carried out 752 missions;
- Important assist was provided to 537 people (stopping lack of life, and/or provide to acceptable medical care);
- Coast Guard helicopters carried out 134 air ambulance flights in help of the offshore island communities;
- Royal Nationwide Lifeboat Institution lifeboats had been launched on 699 occasions; and
- Group inshore rescue service was launched for 73 taskings in 2024.
All 12 months lengthy, the Coast Guard coordinated 2,554 incidents which included search and rescue, maritime casualty responses and air air pollution and preparedness responses. The 44 Irish Coast Guard Fashions had been mobilised on 1,154 occasions over the earlier 12 months. The Irish Coast Guard continued to help communities all through the nation by providing 134 air ambulance flights in help of the offshore island communities.
The Irish Coast Guard provided essential assist to 537 people over 2024, stopping lack of life and/or delivering people to acceptable medical care. It moreover collaborated with the broader search and rescue neighborhood all by 2024, with the three Irish Coast Guard Maritime Coordination Centres in Dublin, Malin and Valentia tasking RNLI lifeboats on 699 occasions, and launching the neighborhood inshore rescue service on 73 occasions.
In December 2024, the first two of the AW189 helicopters provided by Bristow Ireland Restricted beneath the model new aviation service contract, commenced operation in Shannon. The alternative 4 helicopters are scheduled for provide early inside the new yr.
The priority of the phased transition to the model new contract was guaranteeing the safety of the helicopter crews, Irish Coast Guard members and completely different stakeholders who shall be working alongside the helicopters. This important milestone was achieved through constructive collaboration between the two contractors and the Division of Transport and help from the broader search and rescue neighborhood.
The alternative three SAR (Search and Rescue) bases are persevering with the transition to the model new contract and may begin operation inside the first half of 2025. The Coast Guard moreover seems to be like forward to welcoming the first fixed-wing airplane to the IRCG fleet inside the coming weeks.
Ms Joanna Cullen, Assistant Secretary Regular on the Division of Transport with obligation the Irish Coast Guard, talked about: “2024 was a vital and busy yr for the Irish Coast Guard. I have to thank all members of the Irish Coast Guard who’ve as quickly as as soon as extra confirmed their dedication to holding the Irish shoreline protected. I have to considerably delay my appreciation to the staff inside the three Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres, who keep vigilant every day and night and assure our essential work continues, significantly all through the Christmas interval when others take pride shortly off with family and mates.”
The Irish Coast Guard wants all folks a contented and guarded New 12 months in 2025.
Must you see any individual in trouble on the water or alongside the coast, use marine VHF Ch 16 or dial 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.