Description

The new and improved edition of ICS Guide to Helicopter/Ship Operations provides up-to-date and practical guidance for shipping companies and crew based on the latest feedback from maritime and aviation experts. For almost 50 years the guide has served as industry standard best practice and is a carriage requirement by some flag states. For today’s technologically advanced and ever-growing shipping fleet, the goal remains the same: a safe and efficient operation for all involved.

The sixth edition has been reorganized to make it more user-friendly for crew to find relevant information quickly, and adds new ready-to-use content including: 

• An enhanced shipboard safety checklist for helicopter operations, with tasks presented in chronological order;
• A new, industry standard risk assessment for landing and winching;
• An aide memoire for the responsible officer;
• An example toolbox talk for before a helicopter operation;
• Further clarifications on roles and responsibilities; and
• Updated terminology.

The Guide to Helicopter/Ship Operations can be used by ships’ masters, officers and crew, and is also useful reading for helicopter operators and marine pilots. This guide will help shoreside teams develop shipboard operating procedures and requirements for the full range of helicopter operations that may be undertaken on board.

The Guide to Helicopter/Ship Operations is an essential publication to have on board and its recommendations are reinforced by the new e-learning course: Helicopter Operation Procedures for Ships, available from the ICS Academy. Shipowners can use this course alongside the publication to assess crew’s knowledge and competence on safe helicopter operations.

Contents

Chapter 1 General guidance 

1.1 Introduction 

1.2 Selection of a helicopter operator 

1.3 Provision of helicopter landing/operating area information 

Chapter 2 General ship requirements

2.1 Ship operating areas 

2.1.1 Types of operating areas 

2.1.2 Location and size of operating area – Landing

2.1.3 Location and size of operating area – Winching 

2.1.4 Poop deck platforms 

2.1.5 Structural considerations (purpose built and non-purpose built landing areas) 

2.2 Details of landing area 

2.2.1 General guidance on markings 

2.2.2 Markings for a landing area located at the ship’s side 

2.2.3 Markings for amidships centerline landing area with or without restricted access from the ship’s side 

2.3 Environmental effects 

2.3.1 General considerations 

2.3.2 Aerodynamic effects 

2.3.3 Wave motion effects 

2.4 Details of winching area 

2.4.1 Positioning a winching area 

2.4.2 Winching area on the bridge wing 

2.4.3 Marking a winching area 

2.5 Additional considerations for helicopter operating areas 

2.6 Night operations: landing and winching area lighting 

2.7 Firefighting appliances and rescue equipment 

Chapter 3 Principles of operating safety 

3.1 General principles 

3.2 Marine responsibilities 

3.2.1 Risk assessments 

3.2.2 Helicopter operations risk assessment 

3.2.3 Ship operator 

3.2.4 Master 

3.2.5 Responsible officer 

3.2.6 Deck crew 

3.2.7 Administrator 

3.2.8 Officer of the watch 

3.2.9 Passengers 

3.3 Aviation responsibilities 

3.3.1 Helicopter operator 

3.3.2 Helicopter pilot 

3.3.3 Helicopter winch person/crew member 

Chapter 4 Communications 

4.1 Communications 

4.1.1 General guidance 

4.1.2 Communications equipment 

4.2 Pre-arrival arrangements 

4.2.1 Weather conditions 

4.2.2 Departure of helicopter from the heliport 

4.2.3 Pre-arrival checks 

4.3 Navigation 

4.3.1 Identification of the ship 

4.3.2 Maneuverability 

4.4 Signaling procedures 

4.4.1 Ships’ international signals 

4.4.2 Visual signals to helicopter 

4.4.3 Loss of radio communications 

4.4.4 Warning signal 

Chapter 5 Operating procedures

5.1 Basic operating procedures 

5.1.1 Officer of the watch 

5.1.2 Deck crew 

5.1.3 Pre-arrival checks on the ship 

5.1.4 Firefighting 

5.1.5 The operating area 

5.1.6 The helicopter 

5.1.7 Emergency shutdown 

5.2 Instructions to helicopter passengers 

5.2.1 Passenger pre-flight briefing 

5.2.2 Instructions to helicopter passengers transferring to and from ships 

5.2.3 List of items prohibited for carriage in passengers’ baggage or on their person 

5.3 Marine pilot transfer 

5.4 Freight handling procedures 

5.4.1 General freight handling 

5.4.2 Carriage of dangerous goods 

5.4.3 Carriage of freight and/or baggage in the passenger cabin with passengers 

5.5 Helicopter landing and unloading 

5.5.1 Landing 

5.5.2 Disembarking passengers and freight from the helicopter 

5.5.3 Operational safety 

5.6 Helicopter hovering 

5.6.1 Winching operations 

5.6.2 Underslung loads 

5.7 Helicopter loading and departure 

5.7.1 Loading passengers and freight 

5.7.2 Take-off 

5.7.3 Departing 

Chapter 6 Bridge wing operations for marine pilot transfer

6.1 General 

6.2 Background 

6.3 Bridge wings 

6.4 Risks and controls 

6.4.1 Risks and general mitigating elements 

6.4.2 Proximity of operations to command centre of ship 

6.4.3 Varied size and form of bridge wing winching area 

6.4.4 Elevation above sea level 

6.4.5 Weather and sea conditions 

6.4.6 Proximity to hot gases and other emissions from the funnel

6.4.7 Night operations 

6.4.8 Ship/helicopter communication 

6.4.9 Briefing of ship’s crew 

6.4.10 Bridge wing winching clear zone markings 

Chapter 7 Requirements specific to different ship types

7.1 Tankers 

7.1.1 Oil tankers 

7.1.2 Chemical/parcel tankers 

7.1.3 Vapor dispersal 

7.1.4 Vapor emission control 

7.1.5 Safety 

7.1.6 Freeboard 

7.2 Bulk carriers and combination carriers 

7.2.1 General 

7.2.2 Geared bulk carriers 

7.2.3 Gearless bulk carriers 

7.3 Containerships 

7.4 Gas carriers 

7.4.1 Design limitations 

7.4.2 Vapor emission control 

7.5 General cargo ships 

7.6 Passenger ships 

7.7 Offshore operations 

Chapter 8 Helicopter landing/operating area plan

8.1 Provision of helicopter landing/operating area plan 

8.2 Helicopter landing/operating area plan 

8.3 Completion of helicopter landing/operating area plan 

8.4 Ship’s side helicopter landing/operating area plan 

8.5 Centerline/amidships helicopter landing/operating area plan 

8.6 ‘Winch only’ helicopter landing/operating area plan 

Chapter 9 Emergency evacuation by air

9.1 General 

9.2 Illness or injury evacuation 

9.2.1 Requesting assistance 

9.2.2 Preparation of patient 

9.3 Emergency operating areas 

Chapter 10 Emergencies

10.1 General 

10.2 Helicopter accident procedure 

10.3 Fire procedures 

10.4 Emergency procedures 

10.4.1 Crash on deck 

10.4.2 Emergency/precautionary landing 

10.4.3 Crash on deck, major fuel spillage – no fire 

10.4.4 Helicopter incident on landing 

10.4.5 Man overboard (MOB) 

10.4.6 Helicopter ditching 

10.5 Helicopter ditching

10.6 Plan of action 

Appendices

Appendix A – Shipboard safety checklist for helicopter operations

Appendix B – Communications

Appendix C – Landing – Model risk assessment matrix 

Appendix D – Winching – Model risk assessment matrix

Appendix E – Aide memoire for the responsible officer 

Appendix F – Information to be given to passengers 

Appendix G – Example Toolbox Talk before a helicopter operation 

Appendix H – Commercial helicopters in marine use 

Appendix I – Helicopter operating guidance

Appendix J – Relevant publications

Additional Information

Author    International Chamber of Shipping
Publisher    International Chamber of Shipping Publications
Edition    Sixth Edition
Publication month    2025 - January
ISBN    978-1-913997-66-3
Shipping Weight    1.10Kg