Oil rig workers stranded at sea after helicopter pilots go on strike

Hundreds of oil rig workers have been left stranded after helicopter pilots responsible for transporting offshore staff to and from dozens of locations in the North Sea went on strike.

The two-day walkout by pilots at Bristow Helicopters, which began at midnight on Monday, will disrupt more than 80 scheduled flights, according to the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa).

With each trip capable of carrying 16 passengers, travel for more than 1,000 offshore workers may be subject to disruption and adjustments.

While other helicopter operators serving the area are providing extra capacity, Balpa said oil companies are being forced to review operations and adjust rotas. However, some workers have been left stranded after a typical two-week shift, or are unable to fly out to the rigs, it said.

Among those stuck are workers on the Kittiwake platform, who were unable to depart as planned after operator EnQuest struggled to procure flights, according to trade journal Energy Voice. Some staff have spent 26 days on board and have been forced to cancel holidays, it said. 

The strike concerns Bristow’s bases in Aberdeen and Sumburgh, Shetland, where it stations 11 Sikorsky S-92 helicopters, the workhorse of North Sea transport. The company said some flights have operated despite the strike, with its website listing seven return trips on Tuesday.

Amy Leversidge, Balpa’s general secretary, said the walkout, the second of seven 48-hour protests currently scheduled, was “a last resort” and called only after a year of failed negotiations over pay.

She said: “The strike is having a big impact, with people unable to fly in and out and oil companies having to make adjustments. Our pilots have a good relationship with workers on the rigs and we’re confident that they will understand why we’re having to take this action.”

Captains at Bristow are paid in excess of £100,000, including allowances, with crews flying to oil and gas installations working approximately 182 days a year.

Bristow said it has offered pilots and technical crews an 11pc average salary increase plus a lump sum payment worth 6pc of their 2023 pay in acknowledgement of the “critical role” they play.

 A spokesman said: “The very nature of strike action means operations will be disrupted. However, our crewing, scheduling and ground-operations colleagues are working as diligently and as professionally as possible to minimise the impact.”

The strike affects transport to platforms operated by five companies: BP, Repsol, Chrysaor, EnQuest and Harbour Energy, according to Balpa.

One Bristow pilot, who asked not to be named, told The Telegraph that flying conditions facing crews are among the “the most demanding” in the industry, with helicopters hovering around rigs awaiting breaks in fog banks to make a landing, and sometimes forced to return to Scotland without touching down.

Average flight times are typically 50 minutes to an hour, though five-hour round trips are not unknown for operations from Aberdeen serving platforms beyond Shetland.

Bristow crews engaged in search and rescue activities are also striking, though emergency cover is being provided at all times.