The Irish fishing industry has joined concerns about temporary restrictions affecting the search and rescue operations at the Shannon base during the transition to Bristow Ireland.
Bristow Ireland began operating the new AW189 helicopters but encountered challenges in maintaining a full 24-hour SAR capability shortly after taking over.
Bristow was awarded the €800m, 10-year contract to provide aviation services for the Irish Coast Guard last August, using a fleet of AW189s replacing the Sikorsky S-92 helicopters flown by CHC.
The first of the new AW189 helicopters operated by Bristow Ireland, the new provider of Irish Coast Guard aviation services, began operating from Shannon airport as Rescue 115 at midnight on December 8.
On December 12 and 13, Rescue 115 was declared as having no night-time capability. It has only one winch crew.
On December 18, the Sligo-based Rescue 118 crew had to cover for Shannon on a removal from Inis Mór to University Hospital Galway because Rescue 115 was not available.
The Sligo, Waterford and Dublin SAR helicopter bases are still being operated by the outgoing contractor CHC Ireland and are due to switch to the new operator between now and the end of June. CHC is taking legal action over the awarding of the new contract.
Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO) chief executive Patrick Murphy shared: “it is like having an ambulance without wheels”
