Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: Irish Lights

The Irish Government has ratified the Convention on the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation which will support safe and efficient navigation around our coasts. 

As shipping and offshore activity continues to grow, the new Convention will enable collaboration and development of consistent standards and practises at international level.

The Convention changes the status of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities or IALA from a Non-Governmental Organisation to an Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO). The status of IGO will give further weight to the standards and recommendations of IALA, leading to greater compliance and navigational safety.

Marking the ratification of the IALA Convention, Minister of State Chambers said: “The transport of critical resources by sea enables the majority of our international trade. The last few years have illustrated Ireland’s reliance on marine supply chains with over 90% of goods by volume transported into our ports. New opportunities in offshore wind will bring huge benefits and must be planned and managed carefully in conjunction with fisheries, leisure and marine protected areas.

Yvonne Shields O’Connor, Irish Lights Chief Executive and Minister of State Jack Chambers TDYvonne Shields O’Connor, Irish Lights Chief Executive and Minister of State Jack Chambers TD

The offshore environment will be busier while physical and electronic aids to navigation will continue to support the protection of lives, trade, property and the environment around our coast. Ireland’s membership of IALA, along with the work of my Department at the International Maritime Organisation, will ensure that Ireland contributes proactively at international level to the safe and sustainable development of our shipping and maritime sector.”

Irish Lights Chief Executive, Yvonne Shields O’Connor said, “We welcome the Irish Government’s support for the ratification of the IALA convention. Increased digitalisation, connectivity, cyber security, expansion of offshore infrastructure, developments such as autonomous vessels and changes in trade patterns and climate are just some of the key issues being addressed at IALA.

As the organisation responsible for delivering essential navigation safety services around the coast of Ireland, Irish Lights understands the importance of global cooperation and coordination in harmonising marine navigation and related services. Ireland though Irish Lights has been a member of IALA since its establishment in 1957 and we look forward to continuing to play our part in this important work.”

Published in Lighthouses

Irish Lights is recruiting for an Electro Technical Officer to fill a challenging and rewarding role on board ILV Granuaile.

This is a unique opportunity to work with the statutory body that maintains the aids to navigation, including offshore lighthouses and buoys, all around the Irish coast.

As the Electro Technical Officer, you will be responsible for all aspects of onboard maintenance of the electrical systems, electronic and navigational equipment, including DP and ocean bed survey equipment, and ensuring all repairs and servicing is carried out to the highest standards.

To apply, you must hold a Watchkeeping Electro Technical Officer STCW Certificate of Competency (III/6), a GMDSS Radio Maintenance Certificate and the Electronic Navigation Equipment Maintenance Certificate (III/6).

A valid medical certificate is also essential.

An attractive salary (€53,050 rising to €63,322), time for time roster (4 weeks on/4 weeks off) and a generous pension scheme will be available to the successful candidate.

Please visit our website (https://www.irishlights.ie/who-we-are/vacancies.aspx) to view the Candidate Briefing Pack for more information about the role, requirements and how to apply by midnight on 28 May 2023.

We look forward to meeting with you to determine how you will support the Commissioners of Irish Lights to deliver on our mission of “Safe Navigation at Sea”.

Commissioners of Irish Lights is an equal opportunities employer and promotes diversity in the workplace

Published in Jobs
Tagged under

Irish Lights is seeking to recruit a Programme Co-Ordinator. Based in Dun Laoghaire, the person will provide support to the Chief Executive to co-ordinate a programme of strategic, governance, compliance, operational and stakeholder activities.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Programme Co-Ordinator will provide administrative support for tasks, including co-ordination of activities, compiling of responses, drafting of documents and proof-reading materials in advance of wider circulation.

The role will be specifically responsible for providing support in the following areas:

  • Governance and Compliance
  • Strategy Support and Co-ordination
  • Stakeholder Support and Co-ordination
  • Internal Co-ordination and Communications

The person must hold a degree or equivalent in a relevant field, for example, Engineering, Technology, Science, Environmental, Business and Public Administration.

An attractive salary and a generous pension scheme will be available to the successful person.

Please visit our website (https://www.irishlights.ie/who-we-are/vacancies/programme-co-ordinator-office-of-the-chief-executive.aspx) to view the Candidate Briefing Pack for more information about the role and how to apply by midnight on 21 May 2023.

The Commissioners of Irish Lights is an equal opportunities employer and promotes diversity in the workplace.

Published in Jobs
Tagged under

Would you like the opportunity to see the coast of Ireland from a different perspective?

If yes, then join the team at Irish Lights, onboard ILV Granuaile, as one of our Able Seafarers.

This is a unique opportunity for individuals with a marine background to work with the statutory body that maintains the aids to navigation, including offshore lighthouses and buoys, all around the Irish coast.

As an Able Seafarer, your duties will include shipboard maintenance, mooring operations, watch keeping and operating deck machinery. You will also work with cranes, winches, workboats and helicopter operations.

Ideally, you will have a valid Able Seafarer Deck Certificate (or be near to completion) together with deckhand experience on specialised vessels such as Aids to Navigation or Offshore Anchor Handling.

When you join us, we will provide you with the additional training required to undertake this particular role, and you will be supported throughout your career to reach your full potential as a Mariner.

An attractive salary (€29,690 rising to €36,375, based on experience and service), a time for time roster (4 weeks on/4 weeks off), and a generous pension scheme will be available to the successful candidates.

Please visit our website (www.irishlights.ie/who-we-are/vacancies) to view the Candidate Briefing Pack for more information about the role and how to apply by Friday, 26 May 2023.

We look forward to meeting with you to determine how you will support the Commissioners of Irish Lights to deliver on our mission of “Safe Navigation at Sea”

Commissioners of Irish Lights is an equal opportunities employer and promotes diversity in the workplace

Published in Jobs
Tagged under

The Commissioners of Irish Lights (Irish Lights) is seeking Expressions of Interest for appointments to its Board.

The mission of Irish Lights is Safe Navigation at Sea. We are a maritime organisation delivering essential 24/7 safety and navigation services, 365 days a year. With strong working ties to our sister agencies Trinity House and Northern Lighthouse Board in the UK, Irish Lights operates on an all island basis, covering both jurisdictions, North and South.

Our current 2018-2023 strategy ‘Safe Seas – Connected Coasts’ recognises the exciting and challenging trends in the maritime sector at national and international level. With a strong focus on safety, innovation, technology and sustainability, Irish Lights plays a leadership role in the delivery of next generation navigation and maritime safety services. We are looking for experienced individuals to join our Board, to support the ongoing development of the organisation. Two appointments will be made in the first quarter of 2023, with a further two appointments later in 2023. Applicants should have Board / Senior Management experience and a specific capability in one or more of the following;

  • Financial experience and expertise – an Accountant ideally with Audit and Risk Committee interest and experience.
  • An Engineer with recent experience in Environment / Heritage / Sustainability / Planning and Consenting / Health and Safety
  • A Construction / Property Development Specialist with experience in Sustainability / Heritage / Architecture.
  • A Specialist in the field of Environment / Sustainability / ESG and /or Health and Safety.
  • A Legal Specialist, ideally with current planning and / or contractual expertise

Marine, Maritime and Navigation experience would be beneficial and is desirable but is not essential. This would include expertise or specific experience of working professionally in any sub-sector of the marine and maritime sector e.g. shipping, ports, offshore wind, fisheries, leisure, marine technology, surveying etc. or knowledge of navigation gleaned from a relevant qualification or a sailing/seafaring background (e.g. yacht master, leisure, merchant, navy).

Irish Lights values and supports diversity and equality of opportunity. Appointments are made on merit. While Board members do not receive fees, the successful appointees will gain significant exposure to and experience in a sector growing in both national and international importance.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted to [email protected] no later than the 27th January 2023. For an Expressions of Interest forms, note the attached pdf. 

Published in Lighthouses

Irish Lights is hosting Navigating To 2050 – A safe and sustainable maritime future, a two-day hybrid conference bringing together key national and international leaders to debate a safe and sustainable route to 2050. 

The event will be held in Dublin Castle on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 November.

Safely navigating to a decarbonised maritime sector by 2050 requires extensive knowledge building, investment and holistic approaches. More importantly, the organisers say, it requires immediate action.

These issues affect the entire marine sector — from shipping, ports, energy, fuel supply and storage, to environmentally friendly and safe navigation, operations and effective regulation.

Irish Lights says the conference will identify the gaps and opportunities that will foster progress on this critical journey.

Register your interest and view key speakers at the conference website HERE.

Published in News Update
Tagged under

Irish Lights is recruiting for an Able Bodied Seafarer (Deck) on board its multi-purpose DP 1 vessel, Granuaile.

THE SHIP

Granuaile is an Irish Flagged 80-meter multi-purpose DP1 vessel with a 20-tonne crane and significant mooring handling capabilities. She is a diesel-electric ship powered by 5 x MAN gensets with a total power of 3700kW driving 2 x Schottel Azi Pod propellers and a Gill Jet Azitumth Bow Thruster. She is classed by Lloyds and has UMS notation. Primary duties involve maintenance of floating and fixed Aids to Navigation. Over the ship's 20 years in operation, she has successfully completed a wide range of offshore contracts, including subsea operations.

THE ROLE

As the Operational Maintenance Operative (OMO) Deck you will be required to carry out shipboard duties as directed by the Deck Supervisor (Bosun). Your work as OMO is classed as general purpose and in addition to deck/bridge/boat work you will also work in the Engine Room, Accommodation and Galley work as directed. On completion of an on-board training programme, you will be expected to be competent in the operation of cranes and daughter craft.

THE REQUIREMENTS

You must hold a valid STCW Able Seafarers Deck Certificate and all the essential criteria listed in the Candidate Briefing Pack. Ex-Naval personnel with experience of small craft operations will also be considered, subject to eligibility to progress to STCW Able Seafarers Deck Certificate and achieving all relevant STCW certifications for the role. Previous experience on Aids to Navigation Maintenance or Offshore Anchor Handling vessels would be a distinct advantage.

You will need to be able to take ownership of tasks and responsibilities and work efficiently. You will need strong communication and teamwork skills. If English is not your first language, you must achieve at least 80% on the Marlin Test. The ship’s core operations of buoy maintenance and lighthouse replenishment can be physically demanding so you will need a good level of physical fitness.

An attractive salary, time on time off roster and pension scheme is available. Please visit our website (www.irishlights.ie/who-we-are/vacancies) to view the Candidate Briefing Pack for further information about the role and the requirements.

The closing date for applications is the close of business Monday, 17 October 2022. Please apply by emailing a CV and cover letter to Gemma Gregan at [email protected]. Please view Irish Lights Job Applicant Privacy Notice on our website.

Published in Jobs
Tagged under

Irish Lights has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Engineering Design Manager. This role will primarily be based in our Dun Laoghaire Office with periodic travel to some of the most stunning locations around the coast of Ireland.

THE ROLE
As Engineering Design, Consent and Compliance Manager you will report to the Coastal Operations and Property Manager. In this new, mid-senior role you will manage a programme of exciting projects. You will motivate and lead our Design and Support Team in the delivery of all design work to support work activities at our coastal stations. You will ensure that Irish Lights complies with relevant planning and environmental obligations and you will be the ‘Delegated Decision Maker’ for Irish Lights with respect to Appropriate Assessment determinations.

THE REQUIREMENTS
You must have an engineering honours degree (level 8 in the NFQ) or equivalent professional qualification with at least 7 years’ experience in relevant engineering design. You will need to demonstrate your experience in project design, preparation of specifications and costings. Similarly, you will need a good knowledge of planning and environmental consenting. A knowledge of habitats and heritage designations and their management would be highly advantageous.

You will need a strong track record of team building, planning and leadership along with excellent communication and people skills. You will also need strong ICT, report writing and record keeping skills, with the ability to prioritise work and work to deadlines.

THE BENEFITS
Details of the salary range and the other benefits including blended working arrangements are detailed in the Candidate Briefing Pack. The pack also gives further information on the role, the requirements and Irish Lights.

HOW TO APPLY
The closing date for applications is close of business on Friday, 26 September 2022. Please apply by sending a CV and cover letter to Gemma Gregan at [email protected]. Please view Irish Lights Job Applicant Privacy Notice on the Vacancies page.

Published in Jobs
Tagged under

Irish Lights is recruiting for a Local Contact in Castletownbere. This part-time role is a critical and responsible position that provides an essential service to our coastal communities.

The role is also responsible for carrying out ground support for Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter operations for the Irish Coast Guard. The role is based at the Irish Lights helipad in Castletownbere and may, from time to time, be required to travel and work at other locations.

Main Responsibilities will include:

Aids to Navigation: Being the local, on the ground, contact for Irish Lights, in the area. Being familiar with the running of the Aids to Navigation and stations assigned.

Helicopter Operations: Being responsible for carrying out ground support for Irish Lights helicopter operations.

Search and Rescue (SAR): Be available to provide ground support and refuelling services for Search
and Rescue (SAR) helicopter operations when required by the Irish Coast Guard.

Key Requirements:

  • Reliable, diligent, conscientiousness and self-motivated person
  • Technical background - possess a good standard of technical and administrative skills
  • Hold a full current clean Driving Licence
  • Reside within 1 hours driving time of Castletownbere Helipad
  • Please view the Candidate Briefing Pack on our website for further information on the role and requirements - https://www.irishlights.ie/who-we-are/vacancies.aspx

Closing date is Tuesday, 21 June 2022. Please send CV and cover letter to Gemma Gregan at [email protected].

Published in Jobs

Irish Lights is recruiting for a Senior Operations Officer (SOO) to fill a challenging and rewarding role on board their multi-purpose DP 1 vessel, Granuaile.

THE SHIP
ILV Granuaile is a multifunctional vessel that primarily operates in the waters around the coast of the Island of Ireland. Its primary function is to place and service offshore buoys, which warn mariners of the location of sand banks, reefs and other offshore hazards near shipping routes. The vessel also serves as a helicopter platform for servicing offshore lighthouses and is available to assist State agencies with search and rescue, emergency towing, oil pollution control, surveying and offshore data collection.

THE ROLE
The SOO supports the Master in all elements of Ship Administration, Safety Management and Service Operations. The role is responsible for managing the crew and junior deck officers and holds a navigation watch when necessary. The SOO plays a major role in the practical supervision of all deck maintenance and service operations including replenishment of stations and maintenance of buoys and moorings and has an important role in charter operations.

THE REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must have offshore experience and hold a valid STCW Unlimited Masters Certificate and full valid DP certification. Excellent seamanship and navigation skills are necessary, together with a working knowledge of statute and regulations. The ability to communicate at all levels and excellent communication skills are also essential.

An attractive salary, time on time off roster and pension scheme is available. Please click here to view the Candidate Briefing Pack for further information on the role and requirements. Please note that Irish Lights only pay for travel expenses incurred within the island of Ireland.

The closing date for applications is the close of business on Tuesday, 31 May 2022. Please apply by emailing a CV and cover letter to Gemma Gregan at [email protected].

Please view Irish Lights Job Applicant Privacy Notice on our website.

Published in Jobs
Page 2 of 8

The Irish Coast Guard

The Irish Coast Guard is Ireland's fourth 'Blue Light' service (along with An Garda Síochána, the Ambulance Service and the Fire Service). It provides a nationwide maritime emergency organisation as well as a variety of services to shipping and other government agencies.

The purpose of the Irish Coast Guard is to promote safety and security standards, and by doing so, prevent as far as possible, the loss of life at sea, and on inland waters, mountains and caves, and to provide effective emergency response services and to safeguard the quality of the marine environment.

The Irish Coast Guard has responsibility for Ireland's system of marine communications, surveillance and emergency management in Ireland's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and certain inland waterways.

It is responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue and counter-pollution and ship casualty operations. It also has responsibility for vessel traffic monitoring.

Operations in respect of maritime security, illegal drug trafficking, illegal migration and fisheries enforcement are co-ordinated by other bodies within the Irish Government.

On average, each year, the Irish Coast Guard is expected to:

  • handle 3,000 marine emergencies
  • assist 4,500 people and save about 200 lives
  • task Coast Guard helicopters on missions

The Coast Guard has been around in some form in Ireland since 1908.

Coast Guard helicopters

The Irish Coast Guard has contracted five medium-lift Sikorsky Search and Rescue helicopters deployed at bases in Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo.

The helicopters are designated wheels up from initial notification in 15 minutes during daylight hours and 45 minutes at night. One aircraft is fitted and its crew trained for under slung cargo operations up to 3000kgs and is available on short notice based at Waterford.

These aircraft respond to emergencies at sea, inland waterways, offshore islands and mountains of Ireland (32 counties).

They can also be used for assistance in flooding, major inland emergencies, intra-hospital transfers, pollution, and aerial surveillance during daylight hours, lifting and passenger operations and other operations as authorised by the Coast Guard within appropriate regulations.

Irish Coastguard FAQs

The Irish Coast Guard provides nationwide maritime emergency response, while also promoting safety and security standards. It aims to prevent the loss of life at sea, on inland waters, on mountains and in caves; and to safeguard the quality of the marine environment.

The main role of the Irish Coast Guard is to rescue people from danger at sea or on land, to organise immediate medical transport and to assist boats and ships within the country's jurisdiction. It has three marine rescue centres in Dublin, Malin Head, Co Donegal, and Valentia Island, Co Kerry. The Dublin National Maritime Operations centre provides marine search and rescue responses and coordinates the response to marine casualty incidents with the Irish exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Yes, effectively, it is the fourth "blue light" service. The Marine Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) Valentia is the contact point for the coastal area between Ballycotton, Co Cork and Clifden, Co Galway. At the same time, the MRSC Malin Head covers the area between Clifden and Lough Foyle. Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) Dublin covers Carlingford Lough, Co Louth to Ballycotton, Co Cork. Each MRCC/MRSC also broadcasts maritime safety information on VHF and MF radio, including navigational and gale warnings, shipping forecasts, local inshore forecasts, strong wind warnings and small craft warnings.

The Irish Coast Guard handles about 3,000 marine emergencies annually, and assists 4,500 people - saving an estimated 200 lives, according to the Department of Transport. In 2016, Irish Coast Guard helicopters completed 1,000 missions in a single year for the first time.

Yes, Irish Coast Guard helicopters evacuate medical patients from offshore islands to hospital on average about 100 times a year. In September 2017, the Department of Health announced that search and rescue pilots who work 24-hour duties would not be expected to perform any inter-hospital patient transfers. The Air Corps flies the Emergency Aeromedical Service, established in 2012 and using an AW139 twin-engine helicopter. Known by its call sign "Air Corps 112", it airlifted its 3,000th patient in autumn 2020.

The Irish Coast Guard works closely with the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which is responsible for the Northern Irish coast.

The Irish Coast Guard is a State-funded service, with both paid management personnel and volunteers, and is under the auspices of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. It is allocated approximately 74 million euro annually in funding, some 85 per cent of which pays for a helicopter contract that costs 60 million euro annually. The overall funding figure is "variable", an Oireachtas committee was told in 2019. Other significant expenditure items include volunteer training exercises, equipment, maintenance, renewal, and information technology.

The Irish Coast Guard has four search and rescue helicopter bases at Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo, run on a contract worth 50 million euro annually with an additional 10 million euro in costs by CHC Ireland. It provides five medium-lift Sikorsky S-92 helicopters and trained crew. The 44 Irish Coast Guard coastal units with 1,000 volunteers are classed as onshore search units, with 23 of the 44 units having rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) and 17 units having cliff rescue capability. The Irish Coast Guard has 60 buildings in total around the coast, and units have search vehicles fitted with blue lights, all-terrain vehicles or quads, first aid equipment, generators and area lighting, search equipment, marine radios, pyrotechnics and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Community Rescue Boats Ireland also provide lifeboats and crews to assist in search and rescue. The Irish Coast Guard works closely with the Garda Siochána, National Ambulance Service, Naval Service and Air Corps, Civil Defence, while fishing vessels, ships and other craft at sea offer assistance in search operations.

The helicopters are designated as airborne from initial notification in 15 minutes during daylight hours, and 45 minutes at night. The aircraft respond to emergencies at sea, on inland waterways, offshore islands and mountains and cover the 32 counties. They can also assist in flooding, major inland emergencies, intra-hospital transfers, pollution, and can transport offshore firefighters and ambulance teams. The Irish Coast Guard volunteers units are expected to achieve a 90 per cent response time of departing from the station house in ten minutes from notification during daylight and 20 minutes at night. They are also expected to achieve a 90 per cent response time to the scene of the incident in less than 60 minutes from notification by day and 75 minutes at night, subject to geographical limitations.

Units are managed by an officer-in-charge (three stripes on the uniform) and a deputy officer in charge (two stripes). Each team is trained in search skills, first aid, setting up helicopter landing sites and a range of maritime skills, while certain units are also trained in cliff rescue.

Volunteers receive an allowance for time spent on exercises and call-outs. What is the difference between the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI? The RNLI is a registered charity which has been saving lives at sea since 1824, and runs a 24/7 volunteer lifeboat service around the British and Irish coasts. It is a declared asset of the British Maritime and Coast Guard Agency and the Irish Coast Guard. Community Rescue Boats Ireland is a community rescue network of volunteers under the auspices of Water Safety Ireland.

No, it does not charge for rescue and nor do the RNLI or Community Rescue Boats Ireland.

The marine rescue centres maintain 19 VHF voice and DSC radio sites around the Irish coastline and a digital paging system. There are two VHF repeater test sites, four MF radio sites and two NAVTEX transmitter sites. Does Ireland have a national search and rescue plan? The first national search and rescue plan was published in July, 2019. It establishes the national framework for the overall development, deployment and improvement of search and rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue Region and to meet domestic and international commitments. The purpose of the national search and rescue plan is to promote a planned and nationally coordinated search and rescue response to persons in distress at sea, in the air or on land.

Yes, the Irish Coast Guard is responsible for responding to spills of oil and other hazardous substances with the Irish pollution responsibility zone, along with providing an effective response to marine casualties and monitoring or intervening in marine salvage operations. It provides and maintains a 24-hour marine pollution notification at the three marine rescue centres. It coordinates exercises and tests of national and local pollution response plans.

The first Irish Coast Guard volunteer to die on duty was Caitriona Lucas, a highly trained member of the Doolin Coast Guard unit, while assisting in a search for a missing man by the Kilkee unit in September 2016. Six months later, four Irish Coast Guard helicopter crew – Dara Fitzpatrick, Mark Duffy, Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smith -died when their Sikorsky S-92 struck Blackrock island off the Mayo coast on March 14, 2017. The Dublin-based Rescue 116 crew were providing "top cover" or communications for a medical emergency off the west coast and had been approaching Blacksod to refuel. Up until the five fatalities, the Irish Coast Guard recorded that more than a million "man hours" had been spent on more than 30,000 rescue missions since 1991.

Several investigations were initiated into each incident. The Marine Casualty Investigation Board was critical of the Irish Coast Guard in its final report into the death of Caitriona Lucas, while a separate Health and Safety Authority investigation has been completed, but not published. The Air Accident Investigation Unit final report into the Rescue 116 helicopter crash has not yet been published.

The Irish Coast Guard in its present form dates back to 1991, when the Irish Marine Emergency Service was formed after a campaign initiated by Dr Joan McGinley to improve air/sea rescue services on the west Irish coast. Before Irish independence, the British Admiralty was responsible for a Coast Guard (formerly the Water Guard or Preventative Boat Service) dating back to 1809. The West Coast Search and Rescue Action Committee was initiated with a public meeting in Killybegs, Co Donegal, in 1988 and the group was so effective that a Government report was commissioned, which recommended setting up a new division of the Department of the Marine to run the Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (MRCC), then based at Shannon, along with the existing coast radio service, and coast and cliff rescue. A medium-range helicopter base was established at Shannon within two years. Initially, the base was served by the Air Corps.

The first director of what was then IMES was Capt Liam Kirwan, who had spent 20 years at sea and latterly worked with the Marine Survey Office. Capt Kirwan transformed a poorly funded voluntary coast and cliff rescue service into a trained network of cliff and sea rescue units – largely voluntary, but with paid management. The MRCC was relocated from Shannon to an IMES headquarters at the then Department of the Marine (now Department of Transport) in Leeson Lane, Dublin. The coast radio stations at Valentia, Co Kerry, and Malin Head, Co Donegal, became marine rescue-sub-centres.

The current director is Chris Reynolds, who has been in place since August 2007 and was formerly with the Naval Service. He has been seconded to the head of mission with the EUCAP Somalia - which has a mandate to enhance Somalia's maritime civilian law enforcement capacity – since January 2019.

  • Achill, Co. Mayo
  • Ardmore, Co. Waterford
  • Arklow, Co. Wicklow
  • Ballybunion, Co. Kerry
  • Ballycotton, Co. Cork
  • Ballyglass, Co. Mayo
  • Bonmahon, Co. Waterford
  • Bunbeg, Co. Donegal
  • Carnsore, Co. Wexford
  • Castlefreake, Co. Cork
  • Castletownbere, Co. Cork
  • Cleggan, Co. Galway
  • Clogherhead, Co. Louth
  • Costelloe Bay, Co. Galway
  • Courtown, Co. Wexford
  • Crosshaven, Co. Cork
  • Curracloe, Co. Wexford
  • Dingle, Co. Kerry
  • Doolin, Co. Clare
  • Drogheda, Co. Louth
  • Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
  • Dunmore East, Co. Waterford
  • Fethard, Co. Wexford
  • Glandore, Co. Cork
  • Glenderry, Co. Kerry
  • Goleen, Co. Cork
  • Greencastle, Co. Donegal
  • Greenore, Co. Louth
  • Greystones, Co. Wicklow
  • Guileen, Co. Cork
  • Howth, Co. Dublin
  • Kilkee, Co. Clare
  • Killala, Co. Mayo
  • Killybegs, Co. Donegal
  • Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford
  • Knightstown, Co. Kerry
  • Mulroy, Co. Donegal
  • North Aran, Co. Galway
  • Old Head Of Kinsale, Co. Cork
  • Oysterhaven, Co. Cork
  • Rosslare, Co. Wexford
  • Seven Heads, Co. Cork
  • Skerries, Co. Dublin Summercove, Co. Cork
  • Toe Head, Co. Cork
  • Tory Island, Co. Donegal
  • Tramore, Co. Waterford
  • Waterville, Co. Kerry
  • Westport, Co. Mayo
  • Wicklow
  • Youghal, Co. Cork

Sources: Department of Transport © Afloat 2020