Helliar

Exports of livestock and seafood have been thrown into chaos after the 'Helliar' became trapped in Leith by the Chinese heavy lift ship ' Ziang Tai Kou', offloading foundations for offshore wind turbines. Industry leaders have called on transport chiefs to intervene and secure the immediate release of the NorthLink ferry. The 'Helliar' had been scheduled to return to service on Oct 14, 2025, after a successful spell in dry dock, but the port entrance has become blocked by the heavy-lift vessel. With livestock season at its peak and the October holidays meaning the passenger ferries are nearing capacity, urgent questions have been asked about how economically important exports would continue without the 'Helliar'. Seafood Shetland was calling on Transport Scotland and the Scottish government to intervene. Holding the 'Helliar' has serious financial implications for both suppliers and their customers. The 'Helliar' finally left the port on Oct 16 at 7.30 a.m. en route to Aberdeen, expected to resume regular journeys to the isles from Aberdeen on oct 17 at 3.00 p.m., after the 'Xiang Tai Kou' made a quick loop out of the harbour to clear a path and then returned to its berth.

The "Helliar" was heading to dry dock in Liverpool on Oct 14, 2014, following a problem with one of its propellers. Once in dry-dock the problem will be looked at and repairs carried out. In the meantime the "Hildasay" was operating on a revised freight schedule and the ferry company was liaising closely with all stakeholders.

Serco NorthLink said that the ship could be back in service next week. The ship has been out of action since the July 31 after suffering from rudder problems. The "Helliar" was taken to dry dock at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead on Aug 2 following the rudder problem which was identified in Aberdeen. On arrival, it became apparent that both rudders and associated rudder stocks required immediate attention. Work on both rudders and stocks were currently being undertaken by specialist contractors in Denmark. During this time, the vessel was also undergoing work scheduled for her January 2015 dry dock, negating the need for her removal from service in late December/early January. The "Helliar"’s return to service was expected on Aug 25. In the meantime, the "Hildasay" continued to operate a revised freight schedule.

The "Helliar" was involved in an SAR Operation jointly with the ferry "Hjatland" and the "Gerda Saele" after a Super Puma helicopter carrying 18 passengers crashed into the sea just as it was coming into land on the Shetland Isles. The incident happened on Aug 23, 2013, two miles west of Sumburgh airport, which is at the very southern tip of the main island. The aircraft was on approach to Sumburgh Airport at approximately 6.20 p.m. when contact was lost with air traffic control. The helicopter was upside down in the water when rescuers arrived. 15 people on board have been meanwhile rescued and were being treated in the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick. They were picked up by the Coastguard and carried to the Clickimin emergency landing site on the edge of Shetland's capital. Five were discharged and nine detained overnight either for observation or suffering from exposure. The bodies of three people have been recovered and work was underway to recover the body of the fourth Person, which was in the wreckage of the aircraft. Apart from these three ships, a rescue helicopter based in Shetland, the RAF rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth and two Bond helicopters were sent to the scene along with the RNLI all-weather lifeboats from Aith and Lerwick. The helicopters and lifeboats on scene were continuing to search. A specialist medical team has being flown out from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to Lerwick. Sumburgh Airport was closed to allow emergency services to deal with the ongoing incident. The helicopter's life rafts were found empty and some wreckage from the aircraft has started to wash up at the southern end of Sumburgh, The helicoper wreckage was in a fairly inaccessible position near the cliffs. The search was being hampered by extremely poor visibility, reported to be down to less than 50 metres. The helicopter that crashed was a Eurocopter Super Puma AS332 L2 operated by CHC. It was taking people to and from the Borgsten Dolphin rig which is anchored about 50 miles east of Shetland's northern tip. The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch deployied a team to look into what happened. At a meeting of the Helicopter Safety Steering Group, offshore companies and unions agreed to suspend commercial flights by all models of Super Puma until at least Aug 28. The four people who died were working for Total through contractor organisations. Reports with photos and Videos: http://news.sky.com/story/1132614/helicopter-crash-four-dead-in-north-sea http://rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/RNLI-lifeboats-involved-in-rescue-operation-following-North-Sea-helicopter-crash.aspx