Coast Guard Search and Rescue

The Irish Coast Guard provides four Helicopter search and rescue bases in the Country, including Waterford Airport, Sligo Airport, and Shannon and Dublin Airports.

Waterford Airport as part of this extremely important service to the community has dedicated staff available to support search and rescue missions 24/7, 365 days of the year.

The Irish Coastguard helicopter search and rescue services conducted a total of 750 missions across the four bases in 2017, saving 175 people and assisting 316.  The Coast Guard helicopter service, provided under contract by CHC Ireland, aero medical support to HSE conducting 15O such missions in 2017. As part of this service, Coast Guard helicopters transferred 5 paediatric patients to UK for emergency procedures relating to organ transplant.

The Irish Coast Guard helicopter base at Waterford Airport is Rescue 117. It is housed in a purpose built hangar and adjoining building with operations rooms, rest and sleep down areas, and facilities  for the vital engineering and maintenance that enables the helicopter rescue service to run 24/7, flying regular training missions and vital rescue missions.

The rescue service at Waterford Airport provides cover for the main ferry routes into Rosslare and for the fishing grounds off the South and East coasts. Cover is also provided to the large volume of commercial traffic transiting off the south coast.

It is regarded as an essential service by those in the fishing industry and by all sea and air users passing through this area. In addition the helicopter provides an excellent asset which can be utilised for the search and rescue of those who find themselves in difficulty and dangerous circumstances on exposed coastal areas, and the popular hill and mountain areas in the south of the country.

Waterford Airport proudly supports the work undertaken by Coastguard and CHC personnel who are the backbone of this vital rescue service.

Remember, use Coastguard Vital Assets to save lives…..

If you spot someone in trouble at sea or on the cliffs or coast or even if you ’think’ that someone may be in trouble, dial 112/999 and ask for the Coast Guard, or if you are in trouble at sea, call on VHF Channel 16, MF 2182 KHz or use DSC.