A trade union has renewed calls for the evacuation of up to 200 more people working within a few miles of the North Sea platform at the centre of a gas leak.
Unite expressed “deep concerns” over reports that a group of workers had been sent on Wednesday to the Franklin platform, three miles from the evacuated Elgin site.
The union called for an immediate suspension of deployments of staff to that part of the North Sea, and reiterated demands for the exclusion zone to be extended from the three-mile radius to five miles.
Talks are also under way between Unite officials and Shell over the shutdown of the nearby Shearwater platform. Regional officer Willie Wallace said: “Families of our members working offshore are asking for clarity on the situation.
“We estimate that there could be anything between 100 and 200 people working on rigs in and around five miles of the Elgin.
“In the case of the Franklin – normally an unmanned platform – we must question the urgency of putting a crew out there at this time, given its proximity to the Elgin.
“We understand there are only temporary power arrangements in place for the Franklin as the standard supply is usually sourced from the Elgin.”
“This could mean a risk to the temporary safe area which would be used in the event of an emergency situation, as it may not be sufficiently pressurised or fit for purpose.
“Transparency is absolutely vital in this unprecedented situation.”
He welcomed contact from Shell and Total in the previous 24 hours over their shutdown and maintenance plans and said that further discussions would take place. Mr Wallace added: “However, the oil companies must put people before profit and we are now calling for them to bring forward plans for an immediate evacuation of the impacted area.”
Fears about the risk the leak poses to staff on nearby platforms this week led Shell to suspend production on the Shearwater and Noble Hans Deul drilling site.
The company “down-manned” the platforms on Monday from the 196 people they normally have on board to 79.
A Shell spokeswoman said she did not expect production to resume until May.