THE BRITISH and Irish coast guards services plan to use the same helicopter company and upgraded Sikorsky fleet for reciprocal search-and-rescue services across the islands from 2012.
The British Maritime and Coastguard Agency will provide back-up cover for the Irish Coast Guard’s southeast base when it moves to daytime-only missions in return for Irish rescue taskings in the neighbouring jurisdiction.
The Canadian Helicopter Company (CHC), which currently runs the Irish Coast Guard service, has been selected as preferred bidder in both Ireland and Britain for new 10-year and 25-year search-and-rescue helicopter agreements respectively.
As part of the plan, Sikorsky S-92s will replace existing Sikorsky S-61 helicopters at the Irish bases.
The aircraft’s faster speed and endurance have been cited by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey as a reason for reducing Waterford’s availability to 12 hours only from 2012-2013.
The Department of Transport confirmed last night that British Coastguard chief Rod Johnson is travelling to Dublin shortly to finalise details on a memorandum of understanding between Britain and Ireland on search and rescue, as well as ship casualty and pollution incidents in the Irish Sea.
Opposition TDs have criticised the reduced southeast cover, which will save an estimated €1 million annually when introduced in three years.
The overall search-and-rescue budget will increase from €30 million to €50 million to cover the cost of the aircraft change under the new 10-year contract with CHC.
The Federation of Irish Fishermen has welcomed the increased rescue budget, but has urged Mr Dempsey to review the decision on the southeast base.
“Not only is the southeast a major location for fishing activity for Irish, French and British fishermen, but it also contains one of the most important sea-ferry and merchant shipping routes between Ireland, Britain and France,” federation chairman Lorcan Ó Cinnéide has said.
British Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman Mark Clark said reciprocal cover was already provided between the two islands, on an informal basis.
“When there is an incident in Northern Ireland, we routinely contact both Dublin and Prestwick in Scotland to see which is closer to the incident,” he said.
The decision to use S-92 helicopters on both islands will streamline services, according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The aircraft model was grounded by its manufacturers after last year’s crash in British Columbia, which claimed 17 lives. The crash was attributed to use of a steel bolt in the engine casing, and the manufacturers replaced these during the temporary grounding with titanium equivalents.
The Sikorsky S-92s have been used by the agency in Scotland since 2007, and are being extended across Britain.
Cover for Ireland’s southeast coast at night-time hours will initially be provided here by helicopters at Dublin and Shannon, but back-up will also be available from British bases, currently run by the RAF, at Valley, Culdrose and Chivenor.