G'day All,
In Australia, the ports of Port Hedland, Dampier, Newcastle, Gladstone and Mackay/Hay Point use land on helicopters for the majority of marine pilot transfers. The pilots used for passage through the Great Barrier Reef at Hydrographer's passage also use land on helicopters. In all of these ports, helicopters are the norm, with the pilot launch only used in cases of adverse weather (normally fog, as the boats have to cease operations before the helicopter due to wind, sea state, etc.), for tankers or other vessels unsuitable for helicopter operations.
I personally have landed on cargo vessels from Capesize down to "gracht" type vessels. As long as the vessel can supply the required clearance from cranes, staunchions, deck cargo, etc, has the structural strength to support a helicopter (<3t generally in MPT operations), has the required safety equipment and a properly trained emergency party, then there is no reason to subject the marine pilot to the more hazardous option of a launch transfer.
We sometimes have vessels (including capes and panamaxes) refusing to permit helicopter transfers due to their hatches being "winch only". The weight of water in a reasonable sea breaking over the hatch weighs a damn sight more than a helicopter landing. These vessels generally are not invited back for further cargoes.............
Cheers,
tropic
I have also landed on offshore vessels, and yep, they can be very interesting to land on due to the higher position of the helideck and the requirement to take the vessel's heave into consideration as well and pitch and roll.
Australian regulations
HERE.