Question 1

What is The Irish Coast Guard?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

What is its main role of the Irish Coast Guard?

Accepted Answer

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).

Question 3

Is the Irish Coast Guard service 24/7?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

How many emergencies does the Irish Coast respond to each year?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

Does it also handle medical emergencies?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

Is the Irish Coast Guard an all-island body?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

How much does the Irish Coast Guard cost?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

What resources does the Irish Coast Guard have?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

How quickly can Irish Coast Guard assets respond?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

How are Irish Coast Guard units managed?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 11

Are Irish Coast Guard volunteers paid?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 12

Does the Irish Coast Guard charge for rescue?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

What communications systems do the Irish Coast Guard use?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 14

Is the Irish Coast Guard responsible for pollution response?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 15

What is the Irish Coast Guard's safety record?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 16

What was the Government response to the Coast Guard fatalities?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 17

When was The Irish Coast Guard formed?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 18

Who was The Irish Coast Guard's first director?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 19

Who is The Irish Coast Guard's current director?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 20

Where are Coast Guard Units located in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

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


Race	Sched	Event	North Station	South Station	Winner	Time	Distance	Next	Comment
1	17:00	M Club 1 4+	UCD BC (A)	DUBC B	UCD BC (A)	3:50	1L	198
2	17:04	M Club 1 4+	Commercial RC A	UCD BC C	UCD BC C	3:41	3L	228
3	17:08	M Club 1 4+	DUBC A	Commercial RC B	Commercial RC B	3:50	2L	229
4	17:11	M Jnr 18 1X	Commercial RC, Bolger, T	New Ross BC, Ferguson, J	Commercial RC, Bolger, T	4:17	5L	30
5	17:14	M Jnr 18 1X	Blackrock Col. RC, Crowe, L	Neptune RC, Byrne, S	Blackrock Col. RC, Crowe, L	4:09	0.5L	30
6	17:17	M Jnr 18 1X	Three Castles RC, Grace, J	New Ross BC, Sutton, L	New Ross BC, Sutton, L	4:19	E	70
7	17:20	M Jnr 18 1X	Blackrock Col. RC, Fennelly, J	Graiguenamanagh RC, Moylan, J	Graiguenamanagh RC, Moylan, J	4:22	3L	31
8	17:23	M Jnr 18 1X	Three Castles RC, McKnight, T	New Ross BC, Harrington, L	Three Castles RC, McKnight, T		ROW OVER	31
9	17:26	M Jnr 18 1X	Three Castles RC, Higgins, C	Commercial RC, Campion, M	Commercial RC, Campion, M	4:34	EASY	71
10	17:29	M Jnr 18 1X	Three Castles RC, O'Briain, D	Commercial RC, Kelly, C				72	race moved to Sat 08:55
11	17:35	W Inter 1X	Neptune RC, Feerick, C	Garda BC Ryan, J	Neptune RC, Feerick, C	4:33	3L	32	race moved to Fri 18:50
12	17:38	M Club 2 1X	Kings Hosp. BC, Henry, N	Kings Hosp. BC, Gilchrist, K	Kings Hosp. BC, Henry, N		DNF	117
13	17:41	M Jnr 16 1X	Commercial RC, Crooks, L	Neptune RC, Stapelton, J	Neptune RC, Stapelton, J	4:45	EASY	212
14	17:44	M Jnr 16 1X	Neptune RC, Orlic, T	New Ross BC, Gibbon, R	Neptune RC, Orlic, T	4:33	4L	36
15	17:47	M Jnr 16 1X	Commercial RC, Humm, C	Graiguenamanagh RC, Hennessy, B	Graiguenamanagh RC, Hennessy, B		R/O	36	HUMM SCRTCH FLORIN
16	17:50	W Jnr 18 1X	Commercial RC, McKeon, M	Graiguenamanagh RC, Connolly, K	Commercial RC, McKeon, M	4:40	3L	77
17	17:53	W Jnr 18 1X	New Ross BC, Pendergast, F	Offaly RC, Dowling, E	Offaly RC, Dowling, E	4:37	CANVAS	115
18	17:57	M Club 1 8	Commercial RC A	Neptune RC	Neptune RC	3:22	1.5L	41
19	18:01	M Club 1 8	UCD BC A	DUBC	DUBC	3:29	3FT	41
20	18:05	M Club 1 8	Commercial RC B	UCD BC B	UCD BC B	3:23	2L	139
21	18:09	W Club 1 4+	UCD BC B	Commercial RC	UCD BC B		R/O	193
22	18:13	W Club 1 4+	UCD BC C	UCD BC A	UCD BC A	4:29	1L	194
23	18:17	W Club 1 4+	New Ross BC	UCD BC D	New Ross BC		R/O	194
24	18:21	M Club 2 4X+	Neptune RC B	DUBC	Neptune RC B	4:14	4L	195	race moved to 17:30
25	18:25	M Club 2 4X+	Neptune RC A	Commercial RC B	Neptune RC A	4:01	EASY	230
26	18:29	M Novice 8	UCD BC A	DUBC	DUBC	3:43	4L	133
27	18:33	M Novice 8	UCD BC B	Commercial RC	UCD BC B		R/O	133
28	18:37	M Jnr 16 4X+	Blackrock Col. RC A	Commercial RC	Commercial RC	4:03	1L	85
29	18:41	M Jnr 16 4X+	Carlow RC	New Ross BC	Carlow RC	4:09	2L	121
30	18:44	M Jnr 18 1X	Commercial RC, Bolger, T	Blackrock Col. RC, Crowe, L	Blackrock Col. RC, Crowe, L	4:14	3L	70
31	18:47	M Jnr 18 1X	Graiguenamanagh RC, Moylan, J	Three Castles RC, McKnight, T	Graiguenamanagh RC, Moylan, J	4:58	3L	97
32	18:50	W Inter 1X	Neptune RC, Feerick, C	Offaly, Nolan, C				F
33	18:53	W Jnr 16 1X	Commercial RC, Walsh, E	Neptune RC, Stapelton, H	Neptune RC, Stapelton, H		R/O	186	WALSH SCRATCH
34	18:56	W Jnr 16 1X	Commercial RC, Spencer, E	Neptune RC, Rowland, O	Commercial RC, Spencer, E		R/O	224
35	18:59	W Jnr 16 1X	Neptune RC, Carpenter, S	Commercial RC, Healy, G	Commercial RC, Healy, G	5:00	4L	225
36	19:02	M Jnr 16 1X	Neptune RC, Orlic, T	Graiguenamanagh RC, Hennessy, B	Neptune RC, Orlic, T	3:54	2L	248
37	19:06	M Jnr 15 2X	Carlow RC	Blackrock Col. RC	Carlow RC	4:15	1.5L	119
38	19:10	W Club 1 8	Neptune RC	Commercial RC	Commercial RC	3:47	2L	132
39	19:14	W Club 1 8	UCD BC A	UCD BC B	UCD BC B		DISQ	132
40	19:18	W Club 2 4X+	Neptune RC B	Kings Hosp. BC	Kings Hosp. BC	4:32	EASY	223
41	19:22	M Club 1 8	Neptune RC	DUBC	Neptune RC	3:28	CANVAS	139

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