AIR and sea rescues off the Irish coast rose again last year, according to the Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES). Some 4,588 people were assisted or saved in 1996, compared with just under 4,000 in 1995.
A better reporting system is one of the main reasons for the significant increase, the Department of the Marine said yesterday. A three year analysis of IMES statistics shows that there were 1,396 rescues or services last year, compared with 1,155 in 1995 and 1,047 in 1994.
The Dublin coast radio station area was the busiest region, with 586 call outs, compared with 540 for Valentia, Co Kerry and 270 for Malin Head station in Co Donegal.
However, the south west station has recorded the greatest number of lives saved or assisted - some 2,941 last year, compared with 1,088 in the east coast region and 559 in the north and north west. This is almost double the number assisted on the south, west and north coasts in 1995.
Fishing vessels attracted the most operations, closely followed by pleasure craft. Some 377 fishing boats were assisted in 1996, mainly in the south and western sea areas. More than half the 334 pleasure craft assisted were on the east coast, again representing an increase.
There were 51 hoax calls, particularly in the eastern region, compared with 36 in 1995 and 50 in 1994.
The Air Corps was also busier thank the IMES medium range helicopter at Shannon. The Air Corps recorded 141 call outs, mainly from Finner, Co Donegal, and Baldonnel, Co Dublin, while the IMES helicopter was tasked on 125 occasions, compared with 151 in the previous year.
Community inshore rescue boats were used 10 times in 1996, compared with 19 in 1995 and 15 in 1994. The IMES units involved in coast and cliff rescue were tasked for 423 incidents, compared with 431 in 1995.
