Press Release

Issued by Offshore Helicopter Services UK.

December 16, 2012

Bond Offshore Helicopters' BP Jigsaw search and rescue (SAR) aircraft played a key role in the rescue of crew from the Vos Sailor standby vessel, and the subsequent evacuation of the nearby North Sea Producer platform, yesterday along with two other search and rescue aircraft.

Amidst extremely poor weather and sea conditions, one of Bond's SAR aircraft was first to reach the vessel, picking up 8 members of the ship's crew. A Bond winchman then remained on the deck of the vessel to co-ordinate the rescue of 3 further members of the ship's crew. The vessel had lost all power after being hit by a wave, hampering rescue efforts, which had to be conducted in the dark.

With the empty vessel drifting towards the North Sea Producer platform, a second Bond SAR aircraft was then involved in the evacuation of 10 personnel from that platform.

Luke Farajallah, Managing Director of Bond Offshore Helicopter, said: "I would like to commend our search and rescue crews, who did a fantastic job earlier today in extremely challenging and hazardous conditions. Today is testament to the experience, training and dedication of those crews, which is second to none. Our thoughts are with the family of the crew member that lost his life."