GLSNightPilot:
I beg to differ. VLCC's etc do move when loaded, rolling up to 45 degrees. I can say this from experience having spent the last thirteen years working on them. (try two days just after new year, hove-to just off newfoundland in 12m+ swells!!) The wind has very little effect on the movement of the vessel.
I've joined and left many tankers by helicopter (not me flying unfortunately) but the deck area is usually large enough for a smallish helo such as the 206/407 right up to S76 etc. I once joined by Coast Guard Dauphin off Rotterdam, 50 miles offshore, v.bad viz, rain, wind, middle of winter, everyone else on helo in immersion gear, me in tee shirt and jeans? (I admired how professional the pilots were. ) There are often very small sounding pipes (sometimes unpainted) approx. 6-8 inches tall surrounding the Landing pad and these are fairly strong and not likely to break off if you catch one. One other point is that the Landing pad is often marked out (ringed) in lighter coloured paint and diameters painted in for reference. A good company will have a heli landing crew standing by, ready with fire fighting eqpt. etc plus the large pair of well oiled bolt cutters. The ships railings beside the pad are often unfastened and laid flat for better clearance. (or for the helicopter to fall/get pushed over the side more easily?)
As long as there is enough room, the ships Master will nearly always be able to turn the ship to give a reasonable headwind component, usually from the port forward quarter. We always rig a windsock from the fwd mast too.
CyclicRick:
I envy you. My aim is to be able to do the same one day and not have to spend 4 months onboard after landing for a change. Have a good time.