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Helicopter Operations at Sea

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Helicopters reach ships that no boat can, whether to lift a casualty off in a medical emergency or to move personnel. This guide covers the helideck, the equipment, the crew's PPE and the training.[1][2]

Why helicopters are used

Helicopters are used for MEDIVAC, crew transfer, pilot transfer, and winching personnel and equipment to renewable-energy sites.

The helideck

The physical characteristics of helidecks are outlined by CAP 437. These include markings and colours that fit the colour code — the deck is always green and the lettering is white; the helideck area, or "D Value", which is the largest overall dimension of the helicopter with rotors turning; and windsocks that show which way the wind is blowing.

Landing without a designated area

To land a helicopter on a ship without a designated area, ensure that flags and pennants are flown to indicate wind direction; that at night the area is well lit with no glare; that no loose equipment or debris is in the vicinity to avoid accidents from downdraft; and that deck personnel are wearing the correct PPE.

Helideck crew PPE

The helideck crew require safety boots or shoes, eye protection, and ear protection.

Procedures and communication

As per SOLAS and GMDSS procedures, all ships should be fitted with communication equipment and have clear communication protocols to follow. Drills prepare the crew for emergencies such as fire, abandon ship and collision. Note that it is possible to carry dangerous goods by air (with the applicable rules). Familiar items of helideck equipment include the wheel chock; operations include the Hi-Line and winching.

Training

Helicopter training covers escaping from an overturned helicopter to a life raft or into the water, together with the necessary sea survival, including rescue and recovery (the Helicopter Underwater Escape Training).

Key facts to remember

  • Helicopters: MEDIVAC, crew transfer, pilot transfer, winching.
  • CAP 437 helideck: green deck with white lettering; "D Value" = largest helicopter dimension with rotors turning; windsocks.
  • No designated area: flags/pennants for wind, lit at night without glare, no loose debris, correct PPE.
  • Helideck crew PPE: safety boots, eye protection, ear protection.
  • SOLAS/GMDSS: communication equipment and clear protocols; drills for fire, abandon ship, collision.
  • Dangerous goods can be carried by air (with rules). Equipment includes the wheel chock; procedures include Hi-Line and winching.
  • Training: escaping an overturned helicopter to a life raft/water plus sea survival.

Sources

  1. CAP 437 — Standards for Offshore Helicopter Landing Areas (UK Civil Aviation Authority) — helideck physical characteristics and markings.
  2. SOLAS and the IMO/ICAO SAR framework (GMDSS) — shipboard communication and helicopter operations.

Compiled from the sources above and cross-checked against the official documents. Published by the MaritimeTest editorial team.

First 5 of 10 questions — with answers

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  1. Question 1

    Why are helicopters used?
    • Delivering food offshore.
    • MEDIVAC.
    • Crew transfer.
    • Pilot transfer.
    • Winching renewable equipment sites.
    • To transport drilling equipment to rigs.

  2. Question 2

    Which of the following are physical characteristics of helidecks outlined by Cap 437?
    • Markings and colours that fit the colour code - the deck is always green and the lettering is white.
    • Helideck area or "D Value" which is the largest overall dimension of the helicopter when rotors are turning.
    • Markings and colours that fit the colour code - the deck is always red and the lettering is white.
    • Windsocks to show which way the wind is blowing.

  3. Question 3

    Match the description to the correct images. Select the answers that apply.
    Match the description to the correct images. Select the answers that apply.
    • 1 is a Winching, 2 is a Hi-Line.
    • 1 is a Hi-Line, 2 is a Winching.

  4. Question 4

    To perform a helicopter landing on a ship without a designated area, which of the following should be ensured?
    • Flags and pennants should be flown to give an indication of wind direction.
    • If at night the area should be well lit with no glare.
    • No loose equipment or debris should be in the vicinity to avoid accidents from downdraft.
    • It should not be performed at night time.
    • Deck personnel should be wearing the correct PPE.

  5. Question 5

    What type of emergencies do drills prepare the crew for?
    • Fire.
    • Abandon ship.
    • Collision.
    • Tsunami.

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