Is it safe to land on tankers
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Is it safe to land on tankers
I was told by a pilot that the reason that in Australia that choppers are not allowed to land on tankers that it is not safe practice and the government will not allow it, is that correct.
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I am sure the Australian Navy will have something to say about that!!
It is really not about safe or unsafe practices. It is an unsafe practice to land on a dark night on an unprepared LZ to airlift an accident victim. But it is done routinely and at times, with tragic consequences. It is all about managing the risk to mitigate it to the lowest acceptable level.
We can all have a 100% risk free operation if we parked all our helicopters in a nice warm hangar and go home.
But then I heard that a lot of people die in their sleep. I guess it is an unsafe practice to get into bed every night -------.
Alt3
It is really not about safe or unsafe practices. It is an unsafe practice to land on a dark night on an unprepared LZ to airlift an accident victim. But it is done routinely and at times, with tragic consequences. It is all about managing the risk to mitigate it to the lowest acceptable level.
We can all have a 100% risk free operation if we parked all our helicopters in a nice warm hangar and go home.
But then I heard that a lot of people die in their sleep. I guess it is an unsafe practice to get into bed every night -------.
Alt3
Hi H
To be pendantic they are usually called "FSO's" or "FPSO's" and nowadays tend to be purpose built as opposed to converted tankers. Any that I have seen or worked on have a helideck so that would imply that helicopters can land on them.
Solar
To be pendantic they are usually called "FSO's" or "FPSO's" and nowadays tend to be purpose built as opposed to converted tankers. Any that I have seen or worked on have a helideck so that would imply that helicopters can land on them.
Solar
Hi H
To be pendantic they are usually called "FSO's" or "FPSO's" and nowadays tend to be purpose built as opposed to converted tankers. Any that I have seen or worked on have a helideck so that would imply that helicopters can land on them.
Actual tankers would be a different matter I suppose as they don't have helidecks.
Solar
To be pendantic they are usually called "FSO's" or "FPSO's" and nowadays tend to be purpose built as opposed to converted tankers. Any that I have seen or worked on have a helideck so that would imply that helicopters can land on them.
Actual tankers would be a different matter I suppose as they don't have helidecks.
Solar
We do it time to time on the VLCC's (Very Large Crude Carriers) that bring oil to the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port. We take people, parts, groceries, and oil agents to and from them. I went along on a flight once and the thing is so big, I had no sensation of movement or of being on a ship. They have well marked and lit helo landing areas and have fire crews on standby.
In Newcastle, and many other Australian ports, Marine Pilots and crews are routinely transferred to and from bulk carriers and tankers in helicopters.
The bulk carriers usually have a specified hatch for landings, while the larger tankers have a dedicated heli deck.
Aircraft used in Australia vary from B206's through to AS332's and almost everything in-between.
Ask about night VFR transfers, there's a topic to get the blood pumping....
P1
The bulk carriers usually have a specified hatch for landings, while the larger tankers have a dedicated heli deck.
Aircraft used in Australia vary from B206's through to AS332's and almost everything in-between.
Ask about night VFR transfers, there's a topic to get the blood pumping....
P1
Last edited by pohm1; 29th Sep 2008 at 04:49.
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Inandout:
Helicopter operations are part of everyday life on FPSOs. Here is picture of one working offshore Western Australia for Woodside Energy. It has a real nice helideck:
Helicopter operations are part of everyday life on FPSOs. Here is picture of one working offshore Western Australia for Woodside Energy. It has a real nice helideck:
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Ships Side Non Purpose Built Landing Area
InandOut,
The Base document for most of the World that recommends safe practices and Minimum recommended practices for all deck operations is ICAO Annex 14 Volume II Heliports.
The UK CAA rewrote this document and clarified many grey areas that exist in the original ICAO document and publish this as U.K. C.A.P. 437.
Responsibility for Standards in the North Sea Offshore sectors rest with the Helicopter Certification Agency (HCA) but these Guys are employed Worldwide as Advisors and Inspectors of Helicopter landing Areas on Vessels.
CAP 437 is widely regarded by most Offshore Operators (Outside the GOM)as the Holy Grail for setting Minimum Standards.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) further interprets chapter 9 of CAP 437 for provision of information to Masters of Vessels that may wish to operate with helicopters.
On Tankers as opposed to purpose built FSO's or FPSO's, the landing area will normally be a "Ships Side Non Purpose Built Landing Area" and all parameters can be found in the aforementioned legislation.
An update to the ICS Guide is just about to be published.
Whether or not CASA recognise all the above I cannot comment on.
A bit of a mouthful but you did ask!
Trog
The Base document for most of the World that recommends safe practices and Minimum recommended practices for all deck operations is ICAO Annex 14 Volume II Heliports.
The UK CAA rewrote this document and clarified many grey areas that exist in the original ICAO document and publish this as U.K. C.A.P. 437.
Responsibility for Standards in the North Sea Offshore sectors rest with the Helicopter Certification Agency (HCA) but these Guys are employed Worldwide as Advisors and Inspectors of Helicopter landing Areas on Vessels.
CAP 437 is widely regarded by most Offshore Operators (Outside the GOM)as the Holy Grail for setting Minimum Standards.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) further interprets chapter 9 of CAP 437 for provision of information to Masters of Vessels that may wish to operate with helicopters.
On Tankers as opposed to purpose built FSO's or FPSO's, the landing area will normally be a "Ships Side Non Purpose Built Landing Area" and all parameters can be found in the aforementioned legislation.
An update to the ICS Guide is just about to be published.
Whether or not CASA recognise all the above I cannot comment on.
A bit of a mouthful but you did ask!
Trog
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Years back I worked for a company that used to regularly land on tankers and bulkers. We used to do crew transfers and resupply with underslung loads and we tried to land onboard if we could get the captain's permission as it was easier than stooging around for ages while the ship's agent was getting the paperwork signed up then having to winch him and all the nets into the machine.
Lots of the tankers would have a dedicated area with an H painted on, but often it was too small for the S61 so we would thread it on wherever there was space. Some vessels had the railing hinged so they could lay it flat, then it was easy with the tail over the water. Bulk carriers were best though with wide open hatches to park on.
Not too fun in winter/bad weather though.
Lots of the tankers would have a dedicated area with an H painted on, but often it was too small for the S61 so we would thread it on wherever there was space. Some vessels had the railing hinged so they could lay it flat, then it was easy with the tail over the water. Bulk carriers were best though with wide open hatches to park on.
Not too fun in winter/bad weather though.
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Landing on tankers
worked out of Durban for ages when the Suez Canal was closed in the early 70's.
In those days some tankers had helidecks behind the superstructure and the turbulance was deadly. We started landing on the foredeck and as far as I can remember all that happened was that they closed the vent valves while we were operating.
In those days some tankers had helidecks behind the superstructure and the turbulance was deadly. We started landing on the foredeck and as far as I can remember all that happened was that they closed the vent valves while we were operating.
In the DR Congo, we used to have an aircraft based offshore on a tanker (safer than being onshore for security reasons). The tanker was a floating storage unit (FSU) permanently morred in the field and used to collect all the oil from the surrounding platforms. Every few days, another tanker would pick up a mooring about a mile astern and then the pumps would start transferring crude form storage to "market"
Most tanker storage lids are bigger than Heliports anyway!
Landed on a tanker off coast of Teeside UK to pick-up couple of 'port pilots' who would have had to stay aboard untill SA.
FATO larger than London Heliport.
Economics meant that far cheaper to rent a twin to lift them off than delay departure from docks etc. Which I had known that before quoting!
Safe single engine.
Lifejackets on
vfr
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not quite the same as October Calendar scene.......
Last edited by EESDL; 1st Oct 2008 at 10:15.
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Night Tankers!!
Too right POHM.
The whole night tanker thing certainly sharpens the mind for a few minutes.
me.
As an aside, I hear the HA guys are getting EC145/135's soon for the iron ore bulk carriers out of KTA. Good for them. S76 and 332 onto the LNG's is ok. However, a jet ranger onto a hatch at night is a different story, I take my hat off to them. They must have knackers like grapefruit!!?
Oh, and as for the FLOATS, they are most definitely ARMED.
The whole night tanker thing certainly sharpens the mind for a few minutes.
me.As an aside, I hear the HA guys are getting EC145/135's soon for the iron ore bulk carriers out of KTA. Good for them. S76 and 332 onto the LNG's is ok. However, a jet ranger onto a hatch at night is a different story, I take my hat off to them. They must have knackers like grapefruit!!?
Oh, and as for the FLOATS, they are most definitely ARMED.
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Here is footage of a company from Sydney landing on a tanker off the Newcastle coast in an R44. 
YouTube - Sydney HeliTours - Helicopter Ship Transfer
YouTube - Sydney HeliTours - Helicopter Ship Transfer
