Helicopter operations on board ships in Australian waters

helicopter-on-deck The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has issued Marine Order No 57 (Issue 3) and Marine Notice 6/2010, relating to helicopter operations on board ships in Australian waters. These are available at the AMSA website www.amsa.gov.au and are attached to this Classification News.

These revised requirements apply equally to Australian flag vessels and ships registered in other countries but operating in Australian territorial waters, and enter into force on August 1, 2010. They apply to all helicopter operations, including pilot transfer.

Among the changes is a clear requirement that vessels on which a helicopter is likely to
land have on board documentary evidence that the designated landing surface is able to
withstand the static and dynamic loads associated with such a landing.

This analysis may be provided through the vessel’s classification society.
The revised requirements also recognise the International Chamber of Shipping’s (ICS)
Guide to Helicopter/Ship Operations 4th Edition (2008) as the guiding standard in place
of the Australian Code of Safe Practice for Ship Helicopter Operations. The applicable
requirements of the ICS Code need to be considered and reflected in operational
procedures on board.

Where alternative standards are used they should be shown to be at least as effective as the ICS requirements.

It should be noted that any ship intending to conduct helicopter operations, regardless of
the location, should comply in full with the Rule requirements for helicopter operations
which apply to all ships.

Further information open attached file

Contact: Alan Williams
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