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New service fleet to 'future proof' rescue - Coast Guard

The Irish Coast Guard says a new aviation service at Shannon Airport will future proof the next generation of search and rescue operations.

Ireland • 21 Aug

CHC says it is concerned that there are a number of flaws in the conduct of the competition for the contract

High Court challenge taken over Coast Guard contract

The company which operates the Coast Guard service has started a High Court challenge against the validity of the tender process which saw the next contract awarded to a different operator.

Ireland • 14 Jun 23

The 10-year contract will see the retention of search and rescue helicopter bases in Sligo, Shannon, Waterford and Dublin (file image)

€670m Coast Guard contract offered to Bristow Ireland

The contract for the Irish Coast Guard's search and rescue service looks likely to be awarded to Bristow Ireland Ltd in the coming weeks following the Government's announcement of "preferred bidder" status.

Ireland • 30 May 23

The Coast Guard said it is working to reinstate cliff rescues as quickly as possible

Coast Guard suspends cliff rescues for safety reasons

The Irish Coast Guard has temporarily suspended cliff rescues for safety reasons.

Ireland • 12 Mar 21

Members of the Dingle Coast Guard performed their version of the dance challenge

Coast Guard says no to group 'Jerusalema' challenge

National Coast Guard management has issued a statement this evening in which it has updated its position in relation to volunteers participating in the Jerusalema dance challenge, saying they can participate if filmed individually.

Ireland • 09 Feb 21

The four crew of Rescue 116 died when the helicopter crashed last March

Inquests into R116 crew deaths to take place next month

Preliminary inquests into the deaths of two Coast Guard crew members off the Co Mayo coast will be held next month.

Connacht • 21 Feb 18

Rescue 116 crashed into Blackrock Island in March, claiming the lives of four crew

Ongoing safety concerns for rescue helicopter services

Over six months after Rescue 116 crashed into Blackrock Island off the coast of Co Mayo, a number of safety concerns still exists for Ireland's rescue helicopter services.

Ireland • 26 Oct 17

Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 116 crashed off the coast of Co Mayo on 14 March

Concern over Blackrock Island raised before R116 crash

Four months after Rescue 116 crashed into Blackrock island off the coast of Co Mayo, questions have been raised over when it was known that the island was not included on the onboard warning system.

rescue 116 • 14 Jul 17

Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smith have been missing since Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 116 crashed off north Mayo in mid-March

Hundreds attend memorial service for R116 crew member

Hundreds of people attended a memorial service at the local church in Oldtown, north county Dublin, today for the late Ciarán Smith who died in the Rescue 116 helicopter tragedy.

Ireland • 20 May 17

Winch operator Paul Ormsby and winchman Ciarán Smith are still missing

ROV surveys seabed as Rescue 116 search continues

The Marine Institute's 'Holland 1' Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) spent much of the day surveying the sub-sea terrain around Blackrock Island as the search for two missing Coast Guard crew members continues.

News • 06 Apr 17

The wreckage was found off Blackrock island

Trawlers to launch new search for crew of Rescue 116

A flotilla of trawlers are to comb a swathe of the Atlantic off the northwest in the continued hope of finding two winchmen missing from a crashed Rescue 116.

rescue 116 • 05 Apr 17

Search teams are hoping conditions tomorrow will allow them to partially raise the wreckage

Tides hamper bid to lift wreckage of Rescue 116

An operation to lift the wreckage of Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 116 from the sea bed off Co Mayo has been cancelled this evening due to spring tides.

rescue 116 • 28 Mar 17

The R116 aircraft is located 40 metres below sea level

Lifting bags attached to R116 wreckage to help divers

Naval Service divers have successfully attached a number of lifting bags to the wreckage of Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 116.

Ireland • 28 Mar 17

Wreckage of Rescue 116 was found off Blackrock Island

Agencies meeting over next step in Rescue 116 operation

The agencies involved in the search for three missing Coast Guard crew members are meeting to discuss how best to progress the operation, after sea conditions again impeded dives to the wreckage of Rescue Helicopter 116.

News • 25 Mar 17

An improvement in weather conditions may allow divers to carry out detailed examinations of the helicopter

Black box found at site of Rescue 116 helicopter crash

The black box recorder from Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 116 has been recovered, according to the Air Accident Investigation Unit.

Ireland • 24 Mar 17

The agencies involved in the search met this morning to decide on how best to proceed with search

Search agencies hopeful dives will take place on Friday

Search agencies are hopeful that weather conditions will allow for dives to the wreckage of Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 116 in the morning.

News • 23 Mar 17

The wreckage has been located near Blackrock Island

Wreckage of Rescue 116 found off Mayo coast

The wreckage of Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 has been located off the Mayo coast in what has been described as a highly significant development.

News • 23 Mar 17

AAIU said marks on some of recovered wreckage are consistent with tail of aircraft contacting rocky surfaces on the western end of Blackrock

Recovered wreckage is from 'tail area' of helicopter

The Air Accident Investigation Unit has said the recovered wreckage of the missing Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 116 is primarily from the tail area of the helicopter.

News • 20 Mar 17

The RNLI and the Coast Guard were involved in the rescue

Eight rescued from overturned boat off Sligo coast

Eight people have been safely rescued after a boat overturned in the Atlantic off the coast of Sligo.

Ireland • 20 Mar 17

Rescue crews are reviewing the conditions for further exploration today

Improved weather allows progress in Rescue 116 search

Improved weather conditions in north Mayo have allowed some progress to be made in the ongoing search for Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 116.

News • 19 Mar 17

It is likely to be early next week before more detailed underwater examinations can take place

Poor conditions further impede search for Rescue 116

Poor conditions off the Mayo coast have again impeded the search for the black box recorder from Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 116.

Ireland • 18 Mar 17

Mark, Dara, Paul, Ciaran –people felt connected to them as the search and rescue helicopter crews hold a special place in people's hearts

Damien Tiernan: Special place reserved for rescue crews

RTÉ South East Correspondent Damien Tiernan gathers the thoughts of members of coastal communities, paying tribute to the crew of the Coastguard Rescue 116 helicopter, which crashed off the Mayo coast on Tuesday.

News • 18 Mar 17

Captain Fitzpatrick died after the Coastguard Rescue 116 helicopter crashed off the Mayo coast on Tuesday

Captain Dara Fitzpatrick remembered at funeral mass

President Michael D Higgins was among hundreds of mourners at St Patrick's Church in Dublin for the funeral of Coast Guard Captain Dara Fitzpatrick.

Ireland • 18 Mar 17

LÉ Eithne is continuing to carry out a sea surface search this afternoon off the Mayo Coast

Mayo search operation stalled by poor weather

A search for three crew members, missing after an Irish Coast Guard helicopter crashed off Co Mayo, is focusing on a "three-hour window" to find the aircraft amid poor weather conditions.

Ireland • 17 Mar 17

The CASA CN235 fixed wing plane is the only Air Corps plane equipped to conduct top cover operations

Air Corps personnel shortages 'well known' - Taoiseach

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that it is "well known" that the Air Corps has lost personnel but the Coast Guard is "generally in a position" to provide cover it requires.

Ireland • 16 Mar 17