The strike by major offshore union Industri Energi (IE) over a pay dispute has so far put seven drilling rigs out of action and this figure is set to rise to 10 by the end of the week, the NSA said.

It follows over a week of action after more than 300 workers walked off their jobs with contractors Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes and Oceaneering on 21 September.

Contractors