Helifuel Offshore Refuelling Training & Onshore Refuelling Training

The HLO or HDA (Offshore) and HLSO (Onshore) are responsible for all offshore refuelling activities. The Officer responsible must ensure that all refuelling equipment is maintained in a good condition and certified accordingly. Standard procedures during refuelling must be strictly adhered to, and crew members must be highly aware of required activities during any refuelling potential emergency.

The aim and objectives of Refuelling Training is to ensure that the entire refuelling process, from design phase to completion of each refuelling operation, is carried out as a well-planned, controlled and systematic operation, by all concerned parties, to ensure maximum safety standards are maintained during the entire operation.

The logistical complexities involved in offshore refueller training require unique and inventive solutions to maximise cost controls.

It is imperative to conduct Helifuel training in the ‘Installation specific’ offshore environment, as there are many variations to offshore Helifuel design and therefore generic onshore training is impractical and incomplete.

The following tried and tested arrangement provides the best outcome:

• The process is initiated with a full ISO 9001:2015 – CAP 437 offshore Helifuel inspection.
• A theoretical PowerPoint course is provided covering all relevant aspects of Helifuel systems encompassing CAP 437 requirements.
• A practical demonstration and onsite training of the Helideck specific, Helifuel system is carried out.
• The auditors/inspectors should have an aviation qualification and depth of experience relevant to the audit tasking.

The audit/inspection process should be an unbiased third-party analysis, to ensure that the integrity of the external audit process is upheld.

It is therefore imperative that the following guidelines are observed:

• The auditing company should be ISO 9001:2015 certified as this ensures that all documented, reporting and close-out procedures are followed.
• The auditors/inspectors should be ISO 9001:2015 certified with the relevant background experience.
• The auditors/inspectors should be ‘Train the Trainer’ qualified.

Offshore or onshore refuelling is a high-risk undertaking and should be managed accordingly.