Suit for helicopter transport offshore

Company strategy: Helly Hansen Pro’s core values include displaying strength, safety and warmth for its customers, suppliers and employees. Manufacturing life-saving equipment is a great responsibility. Helly Hansen Pro therefore has maximum focus on safety and quality in all stages of production. They have supplied the market with survival suits for almost 30 years, and have gained experience that comes to the fore in consistent design, optimal functionality and safety in every detail. Every product from Helly Hansen Pro meets the specifications laid down by government authorities, certification bodies and customers.


Obtaining information: The Norwegian Oil Industry Association (OLF) has developed a specification for survival suits for use on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. This specification is needs-oriented, based on interviews with users and other interested parties on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. This provided the basis for designing one suit for use both under helicopter transport and on board fixed and moveable installations. The requirements are also based on existing international standards for survival suits, and focus is given to thermal protection in cold water, ergonomics/sizes, and emergency equipment. The requirements concerning thermal comfort during helicopter transport are stringent.

Conceptualisation: With a background in the OLF’s specifications, Helly Hansen Pro and SINTEF Helse have jointly developed a completely new suit, the SeaAir. It satisfies all requirements relating to helicopter transport in the North Sea, by, among other things, using active, temperature-regulating materials. SeaAir’s most important function is to save lives in accidents, and the design of the suit is a direct consequence of this requirement.

SeaAir is inspired by suits that are used for sailing, since these are fitted suits designed for plenty of movement. Good movement is particularly important when evacuating personnel and transferring them to lifeboats. In connection with evacuation, it is also important that the suit does not snag on anything on the way out of the helicopter. Loose elements have therefore been placed in pockets integrated in the dry-suit. The suit’s fluorescent, orange colour makes it as visible as possible for rescue workers.

Testing and choice of direction: Testing has been carried out by at SINTEF Helse’s Work Physiology Laboratory. These are standardised suit tests carried out on humans, in climate chambers and chilled pools. Tests on the SeaAir suit conducted at SINTEF Helse have demonstrated better thermal comfort in helicopters and improved maintenance of body temperatures and hand and foot temperatures during immersion in water (2° C).

Design specification: The SeaAir suit consists of standardised elements and can therefore easily be supplied in 16 different sizes, with varying widths and shoe sizes. The dry-suit comprises four layers. The outer material is coated in polyester and creates a completely watertight barrier. A foam material insulates the body against thermal strain and helps give sufficient buoyancy, which ensures the correct floating position. Intelligent textiles absorb heat from the body in the event of very high temperatures and otherwise supply heat when necessary. The surface of the inner, nylon material has a low degree of friction, thereby facilitating dressing, as well as having anti-soiling qualities. As the first survival suit in the world, the SeaAir suit is equipped with an integrated emergency beacon. The suit has super-elastic seals, lightweight, soft boots and an ergonomic cut. Good comfort and a good fit help improve work conditions, facilitate evacuation and improve safety.


Development: All production takes place in Helly Hansen Pro’s own production line in Moss. Helly Hansen Pro has its own service department for survival suits, where these are cleaned, checked and maintained regularly. The SeaAir suit is designed so that parts that are subject to most wear and tear can easily be replaced, thus extending the lifetime of the suit.

Commercialisation: SeaAir is a huge success. The suit has been purchased by players on the Norwegian Continental Shelf throughout the entire North Sea basin and talks have been entered into with interested parties in Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK. SeaAir is the only product of its kind in the world that has been found to be so functional and of such high quality that it has received international approval by the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority and the Norwegian Maritime Inspectorate.

Company: Helly Hansen Pro

Design: Helly Hansen Pro and SINTEF Helse

Award / year: Honours Award for Design Excellence - 2008

Category: Nominees