EVACUATION / ABANDONSHIP

 When disaster strikes such as collision,

fire, explosion, toxic substances or any
other reasons.
 Ship master may be compelled to order the
vessel to be abandoned.
 Ship provides all life saving support
systems

 Wear warm clothing

 Collect and wear life jacket
 Drink water
 Collect extra items such as :
- Water (necked containers or jerry cans
can stow).
- Food (tinned milk, milk tablets,
biscuits, sweets, etc.)
- Note book, pencil, water proof watch.
- Torch (batteries and bulb.
- Palm, needles and twine.
- Pyrotechnics, EPIRB.
- Blankets, Plastic bags, pocket radio
receiver, fog horn
- TPA, Immersion suits, fuel and
lubricating oils, etc.

 Crew duties to passengers

 Warning the passengers about –
- Meaning of emergency signals
- Emergency route
- Donning Life jacket.
 - Assembling at muster stations.
- Extra items to be carried.
- Dangers when in water.
- Use of Fire fighting and Life saving
appliances.
- Muster of passengers shall take place
within 24 hrs after embarkation
- Abandon ship and fire drill shall take
place weekly.

 HELICOPTER OPERATIONS
 Transfer of personnel
 Transfer of Stores / Mail
 Routine operations
 Search and Rescue Duties.
Helicopter sketch to give

DECK PARTY

 officer in Charge - portable radio

transceiver fitted with a head set and
noise canceling microphone (walkie Talkie)
 Four or more persons - with fire
protective suits
- two – attend to fire fighting equipment
- two - comprise a rescue party.

* Hook handler - strong rubber gloves,

rubber soled shoes / boots.
Uniform - Bright coloured jackets or waist
coats and anti-slip shoes or boots and
protective helmets.

CHECK LIST

1. Secure or remove all loose objects from

operational area.
2. Remove all aerials, stays, running rigging,
standing rigging, etc.
3. Ensure that the vessel is ready to
commence helicopter reception
4. Are fire hoses ready, near to, but clear of
the operating area.
5. Fire pumps running and providing
adequate hose pressure.
6. Foam appliances and monitors tested and
ready for operation.
7. Emergency rescue party on standby.
8. Rescue boat turned out and in a state of
readiness.
9. Crash box / emergency equipment ready,
and close by.
10. The hook handler is fitted out in rubber
gloves and rubber soled shoes.
11. Correctly trained deck lighting is
illuminating the operations area.
12. Correct navigation signals are being
displayed by the ship.
13. Efficient communications established
between all parties concerned.
 14. Deck party at a state of readiness and
the area is clear of all passengers. And
unnecessary personnel.
15. Landing surface should be clean and
free of oil and spray.
16. Rope lashings readily available to
secure the helicopter.
17. Side rails, derricks and any
obstructions removed / lowered.

Additional check list for Tanker vessels

1. No discharge of gas while helicopter

op[erations are being carried out.
2. All tank openings are secured and open
pipe ends are blanked off.

Bulk and combination carriers

1. Surface ventilation to bulk cargoes to be

ceased/.

Gas Carriers

All precautions to be taken to prevent gas

emission on deck.

General Precautions
 1. Do not secure any lines passed down from
the helicopter.
2. Do not touch the winchman, stretcher or
hook / wire until the wire is earthed.
3. Do not fire rockets or rocket line throwing
apparatus in the vicinity of the aircraft.
4. Do not transmit on radio while winch
procedure is ongoing.
5. Do not direct strong light in the helicopters
direction (night operations)
6. The operation area is clear of all loose
objects, running/standing riggings,
aerials, etc.
7. A wind indicator should be arranged,
either a wind sock, flag or smoke.
8. Ships speed is generally the ship’s full
manoeuvring speed. Always wear rubber
gloves when handling winch wire.
9. Illuminate the operational area when
engaged in night operations.
10. The surface vessel should steer with
the wind 30o
a) The port bow if rescue is aft
b) The starboard bow if the rescue
area is mid-ships
c) The starboard quarter if the rescue
area is forward.
11.

RESPONSIBILITIES
It is the responsibility of the user to select
reputable helicopter operations.
The Master is responsible for the overall safety
of the ship.
Helicopter service meets the requirements of
his owners concerning safety, liability,
indemnity, and insurance.
Clearance and permission for the helicopter to
land on board are given entirely at the
discretion of the Master.
The master may stop or curtail the operation at
any time for reasons of ship safety.
The master must ensure that the officer in
charge and the crew members involved in the
crew operations are fully familiar and trained in
standards and procedures necessary to
maintain the safety of the ship.

When landing on the deck

 The deck party should be briefed

accordingly
 Surface should be clean, free of oil and
spray
 Side rails, derricks and obstructions are
removed / lowered
 Rope lashings should be readily available
to secure the aircraft by the down points if
the pilot so desires.
 Rescue boat should be turned out and kept
at a state of readiness
Safety Check List

Communications

 Between the helicopter and ship

 Between the ship’s owner or operator, the
ship’s agent and the helicopter operator
 Visual signal to helicopter
Diagrams to fit here
Arms repeatedly moved upward and
backward beckoning onward.- means
‘vessel is ready and helicopter may
approach’
 Arms repeatedly crossed above the head –
means ‘operations finished’
 Warning signal - A red light in the
operating area will indicate to the
helicopter pilot that operations are to
cease immediately.

Night Operations

 Landing or operational area should be well

illuminated
 Wind sock or indicator should also be
illuminated
 A real danger of blinding the pilot by badly
directed lights should be avoided

Navigational signals to print here – Day signal

and also night signal
Ship Board Operations

 Refer the “ Guide to Helicopter / ship

operations ” published by the
International Chamber of shipping (ICS)
publications.
 A general meeting should be held on board
 Personnel involved to be briefed before the
operation
 Respective head of the department should
be informed.

HELICOPTER OPERATIONS

Shipboard operations

 Helicopter operations demand a clear

understanding of safety requirements for
both the ship and the aircraft.
 These requirements should be adhered to
at all times for routine operations, transfer
of personnel or stores.
 The most important factor in the successful
conduct of safe operations is good
communications.
 It is essential that there is full
understanding and agreement between the
ship’s Master and the helicopter pilot on a
clear and simple plan of arrangements
both prior to and during operations.

Emergency Equipment
(Emergency Crash Box)

 Portable Fire Extinguishers

 Large Axe
 Crowbar
 Wire Cutter
 Red Emergency Signal Torch
 First Aid Kit
 Hacksaw and knife
 Grab Hook
 Marshalling batons for night operations

Lift sketches

Deck Operational Area

 Area should be cleaned and marked /

painted
 All aerials, stays and obstructions aloft are
clear of the aircraft approach
 All loose objects at deck level should be
cleared or secured
 Efficient communications should be
established
 A wind sock or flag should be shown to
indicate the wind direction
 Area should be well illuminated for night
operations

Ship operating areas

Suitable for landing and winching operations
 Operating area should be located on the
main deck and if practicable arranged on
both port and starboard sides
 Consist of an outer maneuvering zone and
an inner clear zone
 Positioning of landing or winching areas
close to the bow is not recommended due
to the increased air flow turbulence
created by the ship’s passage

Fire Fighting Equipment

 At least two dry powder extinguishers with

an aggregate capacity of not less than 45
kg.
 A suitable foam application system (fixed
or portable) capable of delivering a foam
solution at a rate of not less than 6 litres
per minute for each sq. mtr. Sufficient
foam compound to enable the rate to be
maintained for at least five minutes.
 CO2 extinguishers with an aggregate
capacity of not less than 18 kg.
 A deck water system capable of delivering
at least two jets of warter to any part of
the helicopter operating area
 At least two fire hose nozzleswhich should
be of the dual purpose type
 Sufficient fire resistant blankets, gloves
and fire proximity suits
Landing area Sketches 2 nos

Winching Area

 Winch only to be marked in white so as to

be easily visible to the helicopter pilot
 Center Circle to be painted in yellow

Sketch of winching area to be shown here

“ Bird Cage “ Rescuenet appearance - sketch

to appear here

Ship’s deck plan of Helicopter Operation

Sketch to show here

 Position in conjunction with the aircraft.

 Course dependent on the wind direction
 Usually set off with the wind at about 30 0
off the port bow
 Speed generally the ship’s full
maneuvering
SAFETY CHECK LIST

For use with ICS Guide to Helicopter / Ship

Operations

1. GENERAL

a. Have all loose objects within and adjacent

to the operating area been secured or removed.
b. Have all aerials, standing or running gear
above, and in the vicinity of, the operating area
been lowered or secured
c. Has the officer of the watch been
consulted about the ship’s readiness ?
d. Are the fire pumps running and is there
adequate pressure on deck ?
e. Are fire hoses ready, (hoses should be
near to, but clear of the operating area)
f. Are foam hoses, monitors and portable
foam equipment ready ?
g. Are foam equipment operators, of whom
at least two are wearing the prescribed
firemen’s outfits ?
h. Are fire hoses ready ? ( hoses should be
near to, but helicopter ?
i. Has a rescue party, of whom at least two
are wearing firemen’s outfit been detailed.
j. Is a man overboard rescue boat ready for
immediate lowering ?
k. Are the following items of equipment at
hand ?
- portable Fire Extinguishers ?
- Large Axe ?
 - Crow Bar ?
- Wire Cutters ?
- Red Emergency Signal / Torch ?
- Marshalling Batons (at night) ?
l. Has the correct lighting, (including special
navigation lights), been switched on prior to
night operations ?
m. Is the deck party ready, and are all
passengers clear of the operating area ?
n. Have hook handlers been equipped with
helmets, strong rubber or suitable gloves and
rubber soled shoes to avoid the danger of static
discharge ?

2. LANDING ON

a. Is the deck party aware that a landing is

to be made ?
b. Is the operating area free of heavy spray
or seas on deck ?
c. Have side rails and, where necessary,
awnings, stanchions and derricks been lowered
or removed ?
d. Where applicable, have portable pipes
been removed and have the remaining apex
ends been blanked off ?
e. Are rope messengers to hand for securing
the helicopter, if necessary ? ( Note : only the
helicopter pilot may decide whether or not to
secure the helicopter ).
3. TANKERS : Additional items for check list

a. Gas Control, ships not fitted with an Inert

Gas System : has pressure been released from
the tankers within thirty (30) minutes of
commencement of helicopter operations ?
b. Gas control, ships fitted with an Inert Gas
System : has pressure in cargo tanks reduced
to slight positive pressure ?
c. All tankers : have all tank openings been
secured following venting operations ?

4. BULK AND COMBINATION CARRIERS :

Additional items for Check List

a. Has surface ventilation to dry bulk cargoes

ceased, and have all hatch openings been fully
battened down prior to helicopter operations ?

5. GAS CARRIERS : Additional items for

Check List

a. Have all precautions been taken to prevent

gas emission on deck ?