Briggs Marine Salvage Recovers Super Puma

On Thursday 19th February Briggs Marine Salvage services responded to a recovery request of a ditched helicopter in the North Sea. The Forth Hunter was mobilised to conduct the recovery. The EC225 Super Puma, operated by Bond helicopters for BP, was engaged on a routine flight between Aberdeen and the ETAP oil platform, 150 miles East of Aberdeen, when she ditched 500 meters short of the oil rig.

All 18 passengers and crew survived the crash. The EC225 Super Puma helicopter is a new aircraft; operators and Air Accident Investigation Bureau needed to recover the helicopter to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the crash. The Forth Hunter and crew sailed with a Briggs Marine salvage team and representatives of Salvage & Marine Opertions of the MoD. The Hunter sailed through the night to arrive at the crash site the following morning to find the helicopter floating upside down, supported by the emergency escape airbags. A tow line was attached to the helicopter and the Forth Hunter manoeuvred the helicopter away from the oil rig and attached lifting strops in preparation for a recovery.

A large construction vessel had been chartered in by the customer to conduct the lift of the helicopter. When the vessel arrived, delays were experienced as the vessel did not have a qualified procedure and insurance for the lift. The weather was set to deteriorate and fears of the helicopter sinking prompted the request for the Forth Hunter to conduct the lift and recover the helicopter to deck, which she complied with accordingly. Immediately the salvage team set about to preserve the helicopter, which reacts violently from exposure to saltwater. The team removed and preserved the important flight data cards, which, are key to understanding the circumstances of the crash. The helicopter was returned to a secure berth in Aberdeen where the Forth Hunter offloaded it onto a truck bound for the AAIB headquarters in Farmborough.

The operation required a quick and skilful response, the Forth Hunter crew, shore side support and Briggs Salvage team rose to the challenge to complete the task.