The ICS Guide to Helicopter/Ship Operations, 6th Edition (2025) is the shipping industry's best-practice guide to safe helicopter operations on merchant ships. It has been the industry standard for almost 50 years, and some flag states require it on board.

Edition at a glance

Features of the 6th Edition

• A shipboard safety checklist, with tasks in time order
• An industry-standard risk assessment for landing and winching
• An aide memoire for the responsible officer
• An example toolbox talk for before a helicopter operation
• Clear roles, responsibilities and terminology
• A layout that helps crews find what they need quickly

Chapters

• 1 General guidance
• 2 General ship requirements
• 3 Principles of operating safety
• 4 Communications
• 5 Operating procedures
• 6 Bridge wing operations for marine pilot transfer
• 7 Requirements for different ship types
• 8 Helicopter landing/operating area plan
• 9 Emergency evacuation by air
• 10 Emergencies
• Appendices A–J, including checklists, risk assessment matrices and passenger information

Who needs it

Masters, officers and crew, helicopter operators, marine pilots, and shore teams writing shipboard helicopter procedures. Companies use it alongside their own Safety Management System procedures.

Formats

Available as a printed book or as an eBook.