Bristow’s Irish subsidiary has been selected as the preferred bidder for the next Irish Coast Guard search-and-rescue (SAR) contract, estimated to be worth €670 million (US$715 million).
The operator was chosen over the service’s existing provider, CHC Ireland, for the 10-year contract, which which will require day- and night-time operation of four helicopters bases — in Sligo, Shannon, Waterford, and Dublin.
The contract also calls for the provision of a fixed-wing service for five years — a first for the Irish Coast Guard. It allows for both rotary- and fixed-wing elements of the service to be extended to 13 years, but also makes provision for the Air Corps to provide the fixed-wing element after five years.
“We are honoured the Irish Department of Transport has confirmed Bristow Ireland as the preferred bidder for the provision of the Irish Coast Guard Aviation Service,” said Alan Corbett, Bristow’s chief operating officer, government services, in a press release announcing the decision.
“We will continue working closely with the Irish Department of Transport to finalise contracts and look forward to integrating our significant global experience and capabilities into this critical public service.”
The Irish Department of Transport said it will be working with Bristow to finalize the contract over the next few weeks.
Bristow has made a conscious effort to diversify its business away from its core service of offshore support for the oil-and-gas industry in recent years, with government services a key area of focus.
Its win of the landmark UKSAR contract — and the £1.6 billion 10-year UKSAR2G follow up — have helped provide greater stability for the company against the fluctuations of the energy market.
Further to that, this year will represent the first full year of search-and-rescue (SAR) services for Bristow in the Falkland Islands, the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean.
