MORE than 40 offshore workers, the majority understood to be Scots, remained stranded on an oilrig off the north coast of Russia yesterday in a bureaucratic wrangle.
The 43 workers, employed by Aberdeen-based drilling company Northern Offshore, were due to leave the Energy Exerter drilling rig in the Barents Sea last week.
But Russian immigration authorities are alleged to have blocked attempts to allow a repl
acement crew on to the rig.
The rig recently arrived in the Barents Sea after sailing from the Danish port of Esbjerg to begin work on a five-month drilling programme for Russian operator Gazflot.
A crew change was scheduled to take place on Tuesday last week, but workers due to be deployed to the Energy Exerter remain stuck in the Russian port of Murmansk.
Northern Offshore said yesterday that it was doing everything possible to ensure the return of the stranded workers.
John Monks, the firm's offshore manager, said:
"Our sole focus is keeping the guys comfortable and safe on board while doing what we can to get everyone home."
Gary McHattie, the rig's offshore installation manager, added: "We understand that people are frustrated by the fact we have been unable to change the crew yet, but things are progressing."
David Coonie, one the stranded crewmen, said: "The situation is not ideal, but everyone is being well looked after and morale is good."
The full article contains 241 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
