Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 8

Written Answers. - Maritime VHF Network.

Gerry O'Sullivan

Question:

70 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Marine if, in view of the fact that the Ballycotton Tribunal Inquiry has stated that coastal radio stations and coastal garda stations should be equipped with VHF radios and other such forms of radio equipment so as to enable them to not alone pick up distress calls but to communicate these to the relevant rescue agencies, he will outline the progress which has been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Wilson)

The provision of a maritime VHF network is on-going since 1982. There are now 11 VHF remotely controlled stations positioned around the coast, seven of which have been developed since my Department were set up in March 1987. Valentia coast radio station, County Kerry, is the control centre for Rosslare, Minehead, Cork, Bantry, Valentia and Shannon stations while Malin Head coast radio station, County Donegal, controls Dublin, Malin, Glenhead, Belmullet and Clifden stations as illustrated on the map which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

The two coast radio stations, which are manned on a 24 hour basis, are equipped to transmit and receive on both VHF and MF equipment. VHF equipment extends some 50 miles out to sea while MF equipment has a much longer range — 150 miles approximately.

In the event of a distress signal being heard the manned station at either Valentia, or Malin Head, will alert any other ships in the vicinity of the casualty and notify the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Shannon whose job it is to initiate the appropriate SAR response from shore. MRCC has at its disposal a number of rescue units for SAR operation from a variety of organisations.

Given that there is now a newly established national 24 hour VHF coastal radio network, with a specific function to monitor VHF emergency channels, I do not believe that equipping coastal Garda stations with VHF marine band or such other forms of radio equipment would provide any additional benefit bearing in mind that not all coastal Garda stations are manned on a 24 hour basis, and taking into consideration the other duties they have to perform.

For calling and answering use Channel 16 VHF and 2182 kHz MF to call the nearest coast radio station, by name, to your own position. The Control Centre will answer on the same channel or frequency. Working channels and frequencies and broadcast group schedules are shown under each station.