Offshore Workers

Offshore Workers Earn More Paid Vacation

North Sea workers have won an extra 14 days of paid holiday in a tribunal held in Aberdeen, according to a report on www.EnergyCurrent.com. The Offshore Industry Liaison Committee (OILC) and Unite sited the European Union working time directive in the bid to get more vacation for 10,000 offshore workers, including those in subsea, drilling and catering. In a 150-page ruling, the current 26 week field break was deemed compensatory rest for time workers could not take while offshore. (Source: www.EnergyCurrent.com)

Offshore Gas Leak – Union Calls for Evacuation of More Platforms

High pressure gas leak from North Sea oil rig off coast of Scotland – union expresses safety concerns about gas cloud Oil and gas union leaders have called for all platforms within a five-mile radius to be evacuated after fears the gas cloud may be travelling in their direction, according to a report in Scottish local newspaper 'The Press and Journal' As a direct result of the risk the gas leak poses to its staff on nearby platforms

Second Norwegian Offshore Lockout Coming

Norwegian Shipowners' Association (NSA) has given notice of a secondary lockout affecting workers on 94 offshore service vessels and shuttle tankers on the Norwegian continental shelf. The Association is also escalating the lockout of members of the Federation of Oil Workers' Trade Unions (OSF), encompassing members that so far have remained outside the current dispute. The impact of this secondary lockout, which comes into force from midnight,

Schat-Harding New Freefall Lifeboat

Lifeboat and davit manufacturer, Schat-Harding, has completed the first freefall drop with its new design of lifeboat for the offshore sector, the FF1200. Schat-Harding CEO Ove Roessland said, “We were acutely aware that, in order to satisfy regulations applying to the Norwegian offshore sector, it was necessary to design a completely new lifeboat. Now, after several years of research and development, and the successful completion of high-scale module testing

Hibernia Offhshore Workers Ratify Contract

According to a report from CBC News, workers at the largest field in Newfoundland and Labrador's offshore oil industry have accepted a new contract. Hibernia workers on Friday, Nov. 5, ratified a new contract that includes pay raises, shift differentials and improvements in scheduling leave (Source: CBC News)  

E’LOO Electronic Toilets for Maritime Industries

Offshore rig workers to big shipping and yacht to cruise enthusiasts are always looking for new gadgets to enlighten their daily lives.   How about this for innovation. Our Electronic Toilet washes and dries you within minutes without needing toilet paper ever again. Yes, you heard right, E’LOO electronic toilets popularity among the elite yacht population is growing by leaps and bounds and is crossing over to the offshore industry.  

Irish Ferry Workers Protest

According to a Socialist Worker story, around 10,000 workers took to the streets of Dublin last week to protest at Irish Ferries’ plans to sack 550 staff and replace them with temps working for $4.17 (£2.40) an hour. Irish Ferries is trying to implement the spirit of the Bolkestein directive, which attacks the terms and conditions of workers across the EU. Source: Socialist Worker

Tidewater Hostages Released

Tidewater Inc. confirmed that the four workers who were abducted by armed force and taken hostage from its offshore supply vessel Liberty Service offshore the Niger Delta on January 11, 2006, were released safe and well in the early morning hours of January 30, 2006. Three of the hostages were employees of Tidewater Crewing Limited, a Tidewater subsidiary. They were Captain Patrick Landry, 61 years of age, and a citizen of the United States; Harry Ebanks, 54 years of age

Atlantic Towing, Deep Panuke Project

Atlantic Towing is the successful bidder for EnCana Corporation’s offshore supply vessel services contract for the Deep Panuke Project. This award includes building a new state-of-the-art offshore supply vessel at the Halifax Shipyard. The building and commissioning of the new vessel will employ over 200 shipyard workers at the peak and provide 426,000 person hours of employment.  The new contract will raise total employment levels at the shipyard to over 600 at peak

Broadpoint Debuts Rate Plans, GOM

Broadpoint, a full-service telecommunications and network solutions company, announced that it will offer individual rate plans to offshore and marine employees in the Gulf of Mexico for the first time. Workers can now tap Broadpoint’s 100,000 square mile cellular network for voice, SMS and data service, keeping them connected while away from home for significantly lower service costs than with traditional mobile carriers.