Barrett to implement £19m plan for air and sea search and rescue service

ON the first anniversary of the deaths of seven fishermen off Howth and in Donegal, the Minister for Defence and the Marine, Mr Barrett, has said he intends to implement a comprehensive review of air and sea search and rescue at a cost of £19 million over five years.

The Minister said he is "determined" to provide a medium range helicopter in Dublin by the end of next year.

The craft, similar to that already based at Shannon, will provide 24 hour cover for the Irish Sea. Over 20 million people cross this stretch of water by sea or air annually, and the volume of traffic is increasing steadily, the review found. Existing Air Corps short range cover at Baldonnel will be redeployed to the south and south east coast.

Publishing the review group's report yesterday, the Minister did not rule out a role for the Air Corps in the new east coast service, which will be managed by the Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES). Commercial suppliers in Europe and the US have been invited to make proposals to tender. The Air Corps has no medium range craft, in spite of a recommendation in a 1990 Government report on search and rescue.

The review group's report states the service would cost £4 million in capital and £2 million in annual running costs, excluding VAT, if the Air Corps supplied it. A private contract option had originally been estimated at £4 million annually, plus VAT, but it is understood the Scottish company, Bond Helicopters, which is providing the new contract at Shannon, has quoted £3.2 million annually, including VAT.

"The Air Corps are currently providing an excellent 24 hour cover service from Baldonnel," the Minister said, when he stated he was "actively considering" a number of options. The new east coast helicopter could be contracted and managed by IMES but with direct Air Corps involvement in its operation, he said. A final decision would be taken "in the context of public expenditure policy".

The review group, which was chaired by Capt Liam Kirwan of IMES, also recommends:

. provision of a fixed wing aircraft for support including dropping of illuminating flares, life rafts and survival equipment;

. identification of helicopter landing zones on the east coast;

. establishment of a marine coastal response unit at Howth harbour, to complement existing units staffed by local volunteers;

. provision of vehicles for selected coastal response units;

. enhanced marine radio communications on the east coast;

. a marine safety awareness initiative;

. provision by ferry owners of one ship a year to assist in search and rescue unit exercises.

Many of these recommendations are currently being implemented, Mr Barrett said. IMES has started to purchase marine radio communications equipment. The Department of the Marine's safety initiative is also under way, and a booklet on safe boating practices has been produced. The department is also investigating options for a premises at Howth to house the IMES coastal response unit.

The first anniversary of the death of six Donegal fishermen in the Carrickatine fishing vessel is to be marked tonight with a memorial Mass in Moville, Co Donegal. A memorial stone to commemorate the loss of over 200 people at sea from the Inishowen area is being worked on at the Greencastle Maritime Museum. Tomorrow is the first anniversary of the death of a Co Wexford fisherman in the Scarlet Buccaneer off Howth.

A fishing vessel safety review commissioned by the Minister for the Marine is to be implemented shortly.