Nearly 50 jobs at risk as North Sea operator takes steps to prevent coronavirus outbreak

Nearly 50 offshore jobs at drilling contractor Archer are at risk due to client Ithaca Energy’s plans to reduce activity levels and crews on two central North Sea platforms.

In a letter sent to staff, Archer said the “proposed” redundancies were likely to affect 47 of its 83 employees on the Alba and Captain installations, operated by Ithaca, a subsidiary of Israeli firm Delek Group.

Archer, which has an office in Blackburn, near Aberdeen, said it “regretted” the situation and vowed to “make every effort” to avoid job losses.

It said none of the proposals were “set in stone”, but were subject to a 30-day consultation with the Unite trade union.

Archer, whose letter was shared on the Rig Worker’s Rant Facebook page, declined to comment.

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