The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) has successfully navigated one of its most demanding years on record, managing 2,793 incidents in 2025. According to the annual report released on January 7, 2026, by the Department of Transport, the service provided critical, life-saving assistance to 1,941 individuals, ensuring timely medical intervention or preventing the loss of life at sea.+1
This milestone year was defined by the completion of a multi-million euro modernization of the IRCG’s aviation wing, transitioning to state-of-the-art AW189 helicopters and launching Ireland’s first-ever dedicated 24-hour fixed-wing search and rescue (SAR) service.
The Year in Figures: A Critical Response Snapshot
Despite battling a year of “extreme and unpredictable weather,” the IRCG’s volunteer and professional units maintained a high-tempo response across Ireland’s 3,171 kilometers of coastline.
- Total Incidents Managed: 2,793 (up nearly 10% from 2024).
- Volunteer Deployments: The 44 local Coast Guard units were mobilized 1,187 times.
- Helicopter Missions: Rescue aircraft conducted 933 missions, including 190 air ambulance flights serving offshore island communities.
- Inter-Agency Synergy: IRCG Rescue Coordination Centres (Dublin, Malin, and Valentia) tasked RNLI lifeboats 798 times and Community Inshore Rescue services 121 times.
The “Game-Changer”: The Bristow Aviation Transition
2025 marked the full operational rollout of the new 10-year aviation contract with Bristow Ireland, representing a paradigm shift in the State’s SAR capability.
- AW189 Integration: The advanced Leonardo AW189 helicopters—equipped with full ice-protection and high-definition search cameras—now operate from bases in Shannon, Dublin (Weston), and Sligo.
- 24/7 Fixed-Wing Launch: In September 2025, a dedicated Beechcraft B200 King Air service went live at Shannon Airport. This asset provides a persistent eye over the Atlantic, drastically improving long-range maritime environmental monitoring and pollution detection.+1
- Regional Impact: The expansion has improved response times and provided a critical safety net for communities facing increased flooding and coastal emergencies.
Resilience Amid Environmental Challenges
The additional aviation capacity arrived at a vital time. Joanna Cullen, Assistant Secretary General at the Department of Transport, noted that 2025’s harsh weather tested the “resilience and capability” of the service like never before.
“The successful transition of our bases and the introduction of Fixed-Wing operations have been game-changers, enabling us to respond faster and more effectively than ever before,” Cullen stated.
Collaboration and Community
While the high-tech helicopters grab headlines, the backbone of the service remains the 900+ volunteers and the coordination centers in Malin, Dublin, and Valentia. The 2025 figures highlight a seamless partnership with the RNLI, the Irish Air Corps, and local emergency services, ensuring that even in the most remote coastal regions, life-saving help is never out of reach.
Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Picture by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen
