Emergency Contingency Procedures ECP Training & Drills - Helicopter	Doc No.: ECP 04-03 Revision: 01 Date: 15 Oct 2024 Issued by: DPA Approved by: MD

4.8 GENERAL

This chapter includes guidance on procedures to be followed in the event of a shipboard emergency in which a helicopter may assist. Please refer to ICS Guide to Helicopter / Ship Operations.

4.9 ILLNESS OR INJURY EVACUATION

In cases of illness or injury when it is necessary to arrange for the evacuation of a patient by helicopter, the following essential points should be noted.

4.9.1 Requesting Assistance

• When requesting helicopter assistance, the master should:
• Decide and arrange a rendezvous position as soon as possible if the ship is beyond helicopter range and a diversion is therefore necessary.
• Give as much medical information as possible, particularly about the patient's mobility.
• Advise immediately of any changes in the condition of the patient.

4.9.2 Preparation of Patient

Before the helicopter arrives, steps should be taken to:

• Move the patient as close to the operating area as his/her condition permits.
• Ensure the patient is tagged to show details of any medication, which has been administered.
• Prepare the patient's seafarer papers, passport, medical record and other necessary documents in a package ready for transfer with the patient.
• Ensure that personnel are prepared in case it proves necessary to move the patient to a special stretcher (which will be lowered by the helicopter). The patient should be strapped in the stretcher face up, in a life jacket if his/her condition permits.

4.10 EMERGENCY OPERATING AREAS

Considerations for emergency operating areas on ships:

1. On ships which, because of their size or design or the nature of their cargoes, are not suited for routine helicopter operations, consideration should nevertheless be given to the best position for a helicopter to take off or to land people and/or equipment in an emergency.
2. Such an emergency might consist of taking off a sick or injured seafarer, landing a doctor on board, or perhaps landing a repair specialist or some piece of equipment vital to the safety of a ship disabled offshore. This type of emergency operation will normally be carried out by winching, and whenever possible the requirements for a winching area specified in ICS guide to Helicopter/Ship Operation should be met.
3. However, if a vessel cannot provide even these minimum requirements, in such cases, the ship must look for the highest area clear of obstructions to which a helicopter can safely maneuver and over which it may hover safely.
4. The winching area should be as near to the ship's side as possible and there should not be any obstructions greater than 3 meters in height in the area in which the helicopter will maneuver.
5. Obstructions such as aerials and stays must be lowered or removed. If possible, two positions should be selected, one on each side of the ship, to compensate for wind direction if the ship is unable to maneuver. Having chosen the safest position(s) which could be used for emergency helicopter winching operations, the upper parts of any tall obstacles in the vicinity should be painted in a conspicuous color (see paragraph 4.5 (i)).
6. No attempt should be made to mark the emergency winching area permanently as by so doing it may be confused with a full winching area for routine operations.
7. A record and diagram of the arrangements chosen should be displayed in a prominent position in the wheelhouse. Where none of these arrangements can be made safely, helicopter operations should be considered (weather and other safety considerations permitting) with a rescue boat or lifeboat.
8. This should be positioned to leeward, except in the case of vessels such as chemical tankers, which may produce toxic cargo vapors, where the rescue boat/lifeboat should be well to windward. Operations of this nature, which may not prove practicable with ships which carry only totally enclosed lifeboats, should only be considered when there is no practical alternative.

4.11 PROCEDURES FOR – PERSONNEL IN WATER

1. If for any reason a helicopter ditches on take-off or on landing, whether it stays upright or even afloat will be a function of the sea state and the efficacy of the helicopter flotation equipment.
2. However, no rescue effort should be attempted until the rotors have been stopped either by the pilot, if the helicopter remains upright, or as a side effect of the helicopter rolling over.
3. It is unlikely that evacuation from the helicopter can be assisted from outside, but experience has shown that most personnel find their way out of a ditched helicopter through the windows or emergency doors and, because they are already wearing their life jackets, remain afloat.

Note: Whether the helicopter remains afloat, crew members of the rescue boat should keep clear of the immediate area from which personnel may escape and remain clear of the arc of turning rotors.

4.12 PLAN OF ACTION

When helicopter/ship operations are conducted according to the recommendations contained in this procedure, the risk of accidents is small. However, if there is an accident, the plan of action illustrated in Appendix of ICS Guide to Helicopter / Ship Operations is strongly recommended and should be borne in mind when drawing up ships' muster lists and planning periodic drills.

Ref:
MSC.1/Cir.1578, Annex I
MLC Reg 1.3
HSSEQ-12 Helicopter Operation Checklist