Helicopter-facility inspection and readiness
What is being checked
The inspector is checking whether planning, equipment condition, competent supervision and real-time monitoring provide safe use of a designated helicopter landing or winching facility under the vessel's actual freeboard, weather, movement and terminal conditions.
Ready onboard
0/6 completePractice questions
Answer aloud, then open the preparation point.
1Who authorises and supervises use of a designated helicopter landing or winching facility?
Identify the responsible officer and the competent operator or attendant, including who monitors changing conditions.
2What are the stop criteria?
Use defined limits for structural limits, markings, obstacle sector, lighting, firefighting, drainage, foam or rescue equipment and inspection status, equipment defect, lost communication and unsafe movement.
3Show the pre-use inspection.
Physically verify landing or winching area, markings, lights, tie-downs, monitors, extinguishers, rescue kit and communications and reconcile the check with approved plans, structural or load limits, inspections, tests and defect records.
4How will a person be recovered after a fall or equipment failure?
Explain the immediate alarm, fall protection or flotation, retrieval method, medical response and alternative access.
5What changed since the last use?
Check rigging, certification, repairs, berth geometry, weather and vessel condition rather than copying the previous assessment.
Where an observation may arise
The assessment did not address structural limits, markings, obstacle sector, lighting, firefighting, drainage, foam or rescue equipment and inspection status.
Inspection identified faded markings, failed lights, obstructed sector, poor drainage, missing rescue gear or unavailable firefighting coverage.
The arrangement lacked a responsible officer, competent attendant or continuous monitoring.
Operation continued beyond a weather, movement, angle, freeboard or maker limit.
No effective recovery method was immediately available.
Physical condition or configuration did not agree with approved plans, structural or load limits, inspections, tests and defect records.
Master's practical note
Assess the arrangement as a moving system, not a static appliance. Vessel movement, changing tide and the interface with shore usually determine whether a compliant arrangement remains safe.
Equipment boundary and references
Equipment boundary: Follow SOLAS, flag, port, terminal and maker requirements. Stop the operation if a safe arrangement cannot be maintained, even if commercial delay results.
References
- OCIMF SIRE 2.0 Question Library Part 1, Version 1.0, Question 5.10.6
- ICS Guide to Helicopter/Ship Operations
- SOLAS Chapter II-2
Last reviewed: 2026-09-13