The new helicopter rescue service for the east coast, to be based at Dublin Airport, was inaugurated yesterday. The last links in the State's chain of improved air-sea rescue cover have now been forged with the installation of the medium-lift helicopter and the redeployment of the Air Corps to the south-east.
Speaking at yesterday's "fly-past" at Howth, Co Dublin, for the Sikorsky S61N, supplied by Bond Helicopters of Scotland, the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, paid tribute to the rescue services.
With more than half the adult population involved in water-based pursuits, there had been a phenomenal increase in maritime activity in recent years, he said. This growth was most marked on the east coast, with traffic of some 25 million people across the Irish Sea annually. Protesting offshore exploration workers, who arrived in Howth to lobby the Minister about lack of employment of Irish-based staff in that sector, said they had decided against staging a full demonstration as a mark of respect to those who had lost their lives at sea.
Mr Joe O'Toole, chairman of SIPTU's national offshore committee, said the workers were not happy with the commitment given by the Minister to address the situation. The Sikorsky S-61 will provide 24-hour cover from Dublin Airport, with a 15minute response time between 7.30 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily and 45 minutes thereafter.
Bond Helicopters has been providing the Shannon-based medium-range craft for the Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES) since January of last year.
The new five-year contract for the east coast comes into effect tomorrow, July 1st, 2 1/2 years after the death of a Wexford fisherman, Mr Timmy Currid, off Howth, which prompted a review of east-coast rescue cover.
One third of the Bond pilots are ex-Air Corps, one third are ex-Royal Navy, and one third are commercial. About half of the helicopter crew are former Air Corps.
The Sikorsky has an advanced day/night infra-red and zoom television system which includes a thermal imager to enhance the range at which vessels and survivors can be detected. The helicopter also has autohover capability.
Members of the Dublin Fire Brigade were among those attending yesterday's function. IMES, directed by Capt Liam Kirwan, has recently trained fire-fighting teams as part of its own expansion.
The Minister confirmed that an Air Corps helicopter would be redeployed to Waterford airport with effect from tomorrow.
Originally a night-flying Dauphin was to be stationed for the south-east. Speaking to The Irish Times, the Minister said he had not yet seen the Price Waterhouse Defence Forces review, which advises against privatisation of search-and-rescue and recommends purchase of four medium-lift helicopters for the Air Corps.
"All I want to do is to provide a service," Dr Woods said. The mixture of private, commercial and public elements in the rescue sector was working very well, he said, and there had been problems with shortage of Air Corps crew.
"There are four former Air Corps pilots with Bond Helicopters," the Minister said. "That speaks for itself."
Dr Woods also confirmed that he had given £10,000 to Mrs Carmel Currid, widow of Mr Currid, other two others being Ms Joan McGinley of Donegal and Dr Marion Broderick of the Aran Islands. None was present at yesterday's function.
