Alert highlights offshore security

David Capitanchik said workers had to be vetted

Security experts say lessons have been learned following the major evacuation of a North Sea platform.

A total of 161 staff were airlifted from the Safe Scandinavia. A woman was detained over the alert.

Terrorism expert David Capitanchik said oil and gas companies had to be very careful about who works for them.

Energy security specialist John Roberts said lessons had been learned but warned that it was hard for offshore installations to be completely secure.

Mr Roberts said: "For one thing, we now know how long it takes to do a real, live, emergency evacuation.

"We also know something about the lengths it takes to clear a facility and check whether it has any explosives on board."

'Reasonably secure'

Mr Roberts said offshore security was "robust", with all workers subject to body checks at airports.

He said: "I think it is reasonably secure and, frankly, that is all we can ever hope for."

Mr Capitanchik said there needed to be rigorous vetting of those who worked inside the industry.

He told BBC Scotland: "You have to be extremely careful about who you are employing."

The offshore evacuation plan was a major undertaking

Graeme Tran, of the Amicus union, expressed concern that because it had been a security alert, those offshore could not contact their families.

He said: "We have had various incidents in the past but all have been related to health and safety through accidents."

Mr Tran said he understood communications were difficult due to the apparent nature of the incident, but said it was a "worrying time" for relatives.

The incident was described as the North Sea's biggest ever security operation, with plans in place to evacuate more than 500 workers on a number of helicopters.

The military side of the operation alone is understood to have cost more than £500,000.

It will also have been costly in lost production.

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