Teamed up for training

Winching a person at sea into a helicopter is a difficult operation which requires a unique and well-practiced skill set.

In December of last year, Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia engaged the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s emergency towage vessel, Coral Knight, to assist with helicopter-winch training exercises in the Torres Strait.

In certain situations a helicopter may be required to winch a patient from the water or a vessel at sea, either in a search-and-rescue operation or a medical evacuation.

The exercises were designed to recertify the helicopter crew in winch operations, but they also provided an opportunity for Coral Knight’s crew to hone their own skills working with aircraft.

The exercises included casualty recovery from the water and stretcher recovery from the deck of Coral Knight.

In addition to patrolling and protecting the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait from ship-sourced pollution, Coral Knight is also on standby to respond to search-and-rescue activities in its area of operation. Training exercises like these benefit both crews to ensure smooth rescue missions in the future.

From Working Boats, May 2018