#Rescue116 - The Commissioners of Irish Lights aids to navigation tender ILV Granuaile is to carry out a four-day ROV search operation beginning this weekend at the site of the Rescue 116 helicopter crash off Black Rock Lighthouse.
The ILV Granuaile had previously assisted in Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operations following the helicopter crash, which took place on 14 March with the tragic loss of four Irish Coast Guard crew from helicopter Rescue 116. The ROV supplied from the Marine Institute will be used to conduct search and recovery efforts of the two crew members still missing.
Winch operator Paul Ormsby and winchman Ciarán Smith have been lost at sea since the incident off Mayo’s Mullet Peninsula four months ago and that also claimed the lives of Captains Dara Fitzpatrick and Mark Duffy.
An interim report investigating the incident took place in April. It is hoped that the favourable conditions for this weekend will aid a fresh search of the waters around Black Rock for the two Irish Coast Guard personnel.
Currently the ILV Granuaile is carrying out a contract for scientific research operations in waters up to 2,500 metres depth off the Irish continental shelf.
On completion of such duties en route back to Galway, ILV Granuaile will carry out ROV operations off the Co. Mayo lighthouse.
Operations will be directed by An Garda Siochána and are scheduled to begin tomorrow and conclude early next week on Tuesday 25th July.
