UK: helicopter operation standards for large yachts

UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has issued a Marine Guidance Note - MGN 695 (M) regarding training standards for crew participating in helicopter operations on large commercial yachts.

The MGN was published on 11 March 2024.

Introduction

Background

In 2008, an industry Working Group was established by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) to consider “Certification of equivalent courses” to the Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation (OPITO) standard, which would be accepted by the UK Marine Administration under The Large Commercial Yacht Code and the Passenger Yacht Code. In considering the issue of accepting an equivalent course the Working Group also had the objective of identifying the difficulties surrounding the achievement of the requirement and identifying how the requirements may be modified to more appropriately reflect the needs of the Large Yacht Industry. In 2019 the Red Ensign Group (REG) published the REG Yacht Code. The new Code consists of two parts; Part A, being an update to the existing Large Yacht Code (LY3); and Part B, being an update to the Passenger Yacht Code 6th Edition (PYC). The helideck crew training requirements are contained in the Common Annexes of the REG Yacht Code. Following the changes in certification requirements with the introduction of the REG Yacht Code, including the removal of reference to OPITO standards, an industry Working Group established in 2022 has reviewed the REG Yacht Code training requirements and amended the “Large Yacht Helideck Safety Training” course syllabuses to meet these requirements. The REG Yacht Code requires that Helicopter Landing Officers (HLOs) and Helideck Assistants (HDAs) are trained by an ‘appropriate training provider’. Completion of the MCA approved “Large Yacht Helideck Safety Training” courses are considered to meet these requirements. Reasonable transition periods to the amended course syllabuses will be agreed on a case-by-case basis with the approved training providers. The REG Yacht Code also requires that where there are refuelling facilities onboard, at least one member of crew shall be trained in the handling of aviation fuel and associated quality control procedures. The MCA approved “Large Yacht Helideck Safety Training” refuelling course only covers the handling of aviation fuel. Therefore, at least one member of the crew must have undertaken appropriate training in aviation fuel quality control procedures.

Guidance Available

As a result of the 2022 industry Working Group’s meetings the “Large Yacht Helideck Safety Training” has been published on the gov.uk and is available separately to this notice. The 2022 industry Working Group has withdrawn the following documents: Large Commercial Yacht Helicopter Operations Handbook Large Commercial Yacht Helicopter Refuelling Handbook This decision was made on the basis that the REG Yacht Code requires each helicopter facility (including any refueling and hangar facilities) shall have an operations manual, including a description and a checklist of safety precautions, procedures and equipment requirements. This manual may be part of the ship’s emergency response procedures. In addition, operators may find it useful to refer to industry publications and guidance, such as the International Chamber of Shipping’s Guide to Helicopter/ Ship Operations and relevant International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) publications. Courses approved by the MCA and run in accordance with the requirements set down in the “Large Yacht Helideck Safety Training” will be considered as meeting the training requirements of the REG Yacht Code.

Approval of Courses

Providers wishing to run a course in accordance with the syllabus produced should contact the MCA Seafarer Examiners and Technical Delivery Team at stc.courses@mcga.gov.uk for further information on course approval.