Coast Guard Coordination Centres decision

Tue 12/2/2008 6: 06 PM

IRISH COAST GUARD MARINE RESCUE CO-ORDINATION CENTRES

'The Minister of State for Transport, Noel Ahern T.D. today announced that the Government, having considered the matter fully and taken into account the various views expressed has decided to retain the present configuration for the delivery of Marine Rescue Co-ordination. This is based on a Marine Rescue center in Dublin and two Rescue Sub Centres at Malin Head and Valentia.

The need to urgently upgrade the existing equipment has been recognised and the purchase of three Integrated Communication System (ICS) cores at a cost of approx 2.5 million euro has been approved. One will be located at each centre. Tendering procedures for the necessary radio equipment is at an advanced stage and delivery and installation of the first Integrated Communication System (ICS) core in Dublin will be in late 2009 with work at Malin and Valentia to commence in 2010. This phasing ensures that full national coverage is maintained while development work takes place. Each ICS core will be linked to a range of Coast Guard remote aerial sites which will ensure the capacity to retain full national coverage should on of the centres go offline.

This decision means that the capacity and flexibility of the national maritime and rescue communications system will be considerably enhanced. The Minister commented that this represents a significant step in the ongoing development of maritime safety services in Ireland which will continue in the years ahead'.

This has been a difficult time for staff and families at all Centres and it is now possible to move forward with improving the facilities in all three locations to enable us deliver better services to our customers, improve operational and technical functional flexibility and a capacity to develop our service over time.

The staff at Malin Head would like to thank everyone who supported them over the past year.