Lerwick boats prove vital to operations

The training programme began in early 2011, taking place once or twice a week, day and night, to the north or south of Lerwick harbour and often outside port limits. The search and rescue operations are carried out by two specially modified Super Puma AS332L Mark II helicopters and the pilot boats Knab or Kebister.

Malcolm Paine, managing director of Bond Offshore Helicopters said, “We recognise the vital contribution these exercises make in developing and maintaining the skills and experience our aircrews need for their range of operations. The arrangement with Lerwick Port Authority underpins this by enabling us to exercise on a regular and scheduled basis, enhancing the safety of the offshore workforce and of others at sea.”

The pilot boat crews carried out more than 1,200 ship movements last year, an increase of 15.5% from 2010. They practice a number of scenarios including winching a stretcher case from the deck, winching from a multi-seat liferaft and recovery from the sea.

The unique North Sea Jigsaw operations, which began in 2006, have seen some 60 winchings to date as well as medevacs and downmannings, with the 300th mission being flown in April of this year.