We understand the needs of the marketplace and are driven by our expertise in the security arena. Today's world is replete with geopolitical, cultural and ideological tensions which creates risks that need to be mitigated.
The fortunate outcome of the helicopter accident off Aberdeen on Wednesday evening was boosted by the crucial emergency response protocols each company involved instituted.
The crash - which happened just short of a BP platform in the ETAP field - thankfully caused no loss of life. The swift recovery of the men, and their speedy evacuation to Aberdeen is testimony to the well-practised emergency response processes of the companies involved.
Bernard Looney, BP's North Sea managing director, said the firm's safety and emergency response systems worked well. and attention would now turn to finding out what had happened. He described the helicopter crew as "relieved and remarkably calm".
Phil Haase, Managing Director of Aberdeen headquartered risk consulting firm, Haase Associates, stated:
"This is a fantastic example of world class emergency response. Praise need to be given to everyone involved. It was textbook, from the way the pilots handled the issues, the drills the passengers followed, to the response from the companies, police, RAF and Search and Rescue."
Mr Haase states that emergency response procedures are vital no matter how large or small a company is.
"Key to any emergency response is training. Companies need to exercise their staff in emergency response and make sure they are confident enough to cope, no matter what the situation is. Some smaller companies find it difficult to juggle everything they need to do to ensure that this is done. The incident on Tuesday demonstrates how vital this is when operating in any high risk industry."
Mike Mulford, the official spokesman at the RAF rescue co-ordination centre at Kinloss, said: "In very poor searching conditions with a fairly high swell - cold, dark and with very poor visibility - the rescue helicopters were able to find the two liferafts containing the men pretty quickly.
Mr Mulford said it appeared that all 18 on board had been saved because of a controlled ditching by the crew. He added: "When we hear the word 'ditching', you do not know if you are talking about a brilliant controlled landing or about flying into the sea. The same word sometimes applies to both.
"The pilots in this case would not have had much time to react and all the training the aircrew do to simulate these things comes into its own. Clearly, all of that came together - the design of the aircraft, the reaction of the crew and the discipline of the passengers.
"At the end of the day, for 18 guys to be going home having survived a helicopter ditching in the North Sea in February has got to be a good story."
subscribe
news archive