Objective
The objective of the audit was to assess how Equinor is ensuring compliance with the authorities’ and its own requirements in respect of the management of emergency preparedness, materials handling, use and maintenance of lifting equipment, and to verify the helideck and its use on board Aasta Hansteen.
Result
Nine non-conformities were identified, relating to:
- Transfer of experience and lessons learned concerning the helideck
- Governing documents for ensuring safe lifting operations
- Roles, responsibilities and authority
- Materials handling
- Materials handling plans
- Simple lifting facilities
- Manning of lifeboats
- Competence, training and instruction of personnel
- Emergency preparedness performance requirements
In addition, five improvement points were identified in connection with:
- Tetra UHF communications
- Offshore cranes as part of the MOB boat launching arrangement
- MOB boat forerunners
- Maintenance
- Training and competence of key personnel
The Civil Aviation Authority identified nine non-conformities and made two observations.
On condition that the relevant non-conformities are rectified and that the improvement points are satisfactorily assessed, the Civil Aviation Authority Norway recommends that the helideck on Aasta Hansteen should continue to be authorised for helicopter operations.
What happens next?
Equinor has been given a deadline of 13 September 2019 to report on how the non-conformities and improvement points will be addressed.