BSL D 5-1 Offshore Helideck Regulation (Norway)

What does the regulation cover (at a high level)?

BSL D 5-1 covers the framework for safe offshore helideck use, including responsibilities, documentation, and operational expectations, as well as technical requirements for helidecks and associated equipment.

For example, it includes requirements related to:

• Continuous registration of helideck motion for moving helidecks (pitch/roll/inclination/heave rate) and retention of registrations
• Video surveillance of the helideck, including retention periods
• A visual warning/status light system that can activate automatically for unacceptable risk situations and be linked to gas release and helideck movement detection

Offshore Norge 074 (Helideck Manual): where it fits

Alongside BSL D 5-1, Offshore Norge guideline no. 074 (Helideck Manual) is the standard operational reference used by facility operators on the Norwegian Continental Shelf for helideck management and offshore helicopter operations.

It supports consistent helideck practices across facilities and helps align day-to-day operations with the wider Norwegian regulatory framework.

Offshore Norge 074 provides specific guidance on helideck data and the Helideck Monitoring System (HMS). In its HMS appendix, it states that all HMS data shall be made available for real-time sharing with helicopter operators, and that data display layouts shall be approved by the helicopter operators.

For moving helidecks, the guideline also notes the importance of verifying that the HMS conforms with the applicable standard (Appendix K) and includes submission of an HMS screenshot as part of the helideck reporting workflow. If the HMS is unavailable, movement values may be taken directly from the MRU as a fallback.