In 2024, the Irish Coast Guard reacted to more over 2,500 occurrences, the organisation said, reports RTE.
The Coast Guard reacted to 2,554 events during the course of the year, according to the official incident response statistics for the previous 12 months.
This comprised 752 Coast Guard helicopter operations and 1,154 mobilisations of the 44 Coast Guard units, reports RTE.
To assist outlying island settlements, the helicopters performed 134 air ambulance trips in total.
Over 537 persons received vital support from the Coast Guard in the form of necessary medical care or life-saving measures.
In 2024, the community inshore rescue service was launched 73 times, and lifeboats from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution were launched 699 times, reports RTE.
The three Irish Coast Guard Maritime Coordination Centres in Dublin, Malin, and Valentia worked together on these operations.
The first two AW189 helicopters went into service at Shannon earlier this month, and the Coast Guard announced that four more will be delivered in early 2025, reports RTE.
In the upcoming weeks, it will also add the first fixed-wing aircraft to its fleet.
2024 is a “important and busy year” for the Irish Coast Guard, according to Joanna Cullen, assistant secretary general at the Department of Transport, which oversees the Coast Guard, reports RTE.
She expressed her gratitude to every Coast Guard member for their efforts to protect the Irish coastline.
“I want to particularly extend my appreciation to the staff in the three Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres, who remain vigilant both day and night and ensure our critical work continues, especially during the Christmas period when others enjoy some time off with family and friends,” Ms Cullen added, reports RTE.
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