Offshore worker numbers cut as bad weather hits supplies

A number of North Sea oil companies are removing staff from their installations because bad weather has hampered efforts to get supplies to them.

One operator - Ithaca - said it was reducing the number of personnel offshore, with only essential workers staying.

It has not said which assets or how many staff are affected, or when things will return to normal.

TotalEnergies said it had reduced the number of workers on its Elgin platform to manage water stocks.

Strong winds and driving rain have been affecting the area for some time making it difficult for supply vessels to get to the sites.

In a statement, Ithaca said it was taking the action following an "extended period of significantly challenging weather conditions across the region".

"The severe weather has affected our ability to transport certain supplies to some of our assets," it said.

"With the safety and wellbeing of our offshore workforce our highest priority, we have decided to begin to reduce our personnel offshore to essential staff only until conditions improve and supply routes can operate reliably.

"We are working closely with our logistics partners to restore normal supply levels as soon as weather conditions allow."

TotalEnergies said it had also been affected by severe weather offshore.

It has decided to rearrange its activity schedule and reduce the number of personnel on its Elgin platform to manage water stocks for cleaning and cooking.

Graham Skinner, health and safety manager for Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), said consistently strong winds had disrupted supplies meaning things like fresh food and fresh water had begun to run short.

He said there had been waves up to 6m (20ft) which was "not particularly high" for the North Sea but they had been at that level for such a long period that supply boats had been affected.

"I think everyone onshore will be feeling like there has been no end to stormy weather and it's just the same in the middle of the North Sea," he said.

"We only really end up getting into this situation every two or three years.

"So, for many of the workforce, this will be the first time they are experiencing it and it can be a little bit uncomfortable."