The Irish government announced that it will offer its $714 million plus value-added tax Coast Guard search and rescue (SAR) contract to Bristow Ireland Limited, subject to final contract approvals. The announcement was made following an evaluation of offers from a shortlist approved by Ireland’s Department of Transportation.
The contract provides for the 24/7 operation of four helicopter bases in Sligo, Shannon, Waterford, and Dublin and also contains a fixed-wing aircraft element. Following the announcement, Bristow's COO of government services Alan Corbett said, "We will continue working closely with the Irish Department of Transport to finalize contracts and look forward to integrating our significant global experience and capabilities into this critical public service."
Terms provide for the helicopter service to run for 10 years and the fixed-wing service for five. Options could extend both services out to 13 years.
The contract is currently held by CHC Helicopters. CHC Ireland operated a Sikorsky S-92A for the Irish Coast Guard that crashed early on the morning of March 14, 2017, killing all four crew aboard. The accident triggered an investigation that touched on virtually every aspect of related technology, training, human and survival factors, navigation, operations, and regulation related to helicopter SAR and spawned 42 separate safety recommendations.
Bristow operates government services SAR helicopters from 10 bases in the UK and for the Coast Guard in the Netherlands and Dutch Caribbean. It also conducts commercial SAR flights in support of the offshore energy industry in Norway, Trinidad, Suriname, the U.S., and in Canada in partnership with Cougar Helicopters. Since 1971, Bristow has flown more than 85,000 hours on more than 31,000 SAR missions, rescuing or assisting upwards of 19,000 people worldwide.