Industrial action by a small group of specialist medical workers could force the shutdown of multiple North Sea platforms operated by Britain’s biggest oil and gas producer, as tensions mount over pay levels and training allowances in the offshore energy sector.
Around a dozen offshore medics employed by MCL Medics are poised to walk out in a series of 24-hour stoppages, targeting six platforms owned by Harbour Energy across three separate dates from 21-22 November, 5-6 December, and 19-20 December 2025. A continuous overtime ban will also commence on 21 November, according to the Unite union, which represents the workers.
The dispute centers on pay levels and training allowances, with the medics having unanimously rejected what Unite described as an “unacceptable pay offer” from MCL Medics. The strike threatens operations at Harbour’s Armada, Britannia, Jasmine, Judy, Lomond, and North Everest assets, all located in the UK North Sea.
The potential impact of the walkouts is disproportionate to the small number of workers involved, reflecting the critical statutory role that offshore medics play in oil and gas operations. Under the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (First-Aid) Regulations 1989, offshore platforms are legally required to have qualified medical personnel on site to provide emergency care and health surveillance for workers operating in remote, high-risk environments.
“Unite the union can confirm that over a dozen offshore medics employed by MCL Medics, who provide lifesaving services, are set for strike action,” the union stated, announcing the ballot results. The medics work on platforms that are critical to Harbour Energy’s UK production portfolio, which currently averages around 100,000 to 150,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the North Sea.
Without qualified medics present, operators face difficult decisions about whether platforms can continue production safely and in compliance with health and safety regulations. Industry sources suggest that the absence of medical cover could force temporary shutdowns, particularly given the remote locations of the installations, which sit approximately 130 nautical miles east of Aberdeen.
Wider Industrial Tensions
The medics’ strike is the latest in a series of industrial disputes affecting the UK offshore energy sector in 2025. Earlier this year, around 350 offshore workers across three separate employers were involved in strike ballots or industrial action over pay and conditions.
In August, more than 200 Repsol workers accepted an enhanced pay deal worth 8.5% over two years, comprising a 4.5% increase in 2025/26 and a further 4% the following year, averting planned strikes. However, the resolution of that dispute has not prevented fresh tensions from emerging elsewhere in the sector.
Offshore medics typically earn between £25,000 and £35,000 annually at entry level, rising to around £60,000 to £65,000 with experience, according to industry training providers. These figures include allowances for working offshore plus bonus schemes and pension contributions. However, the specialised nature of the role – requiring registration as a nurse, paramedic, or military medic, plus HSE-approved offshore medical training and regular recertification every three years – means workers argue their compensation should reflect both their qualifications and the remote, demanding conditions.
Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, said members were being forced into action over pay disputes. “Our members are being forced into strike action due to a series of unacceptable pay offers made by companies who can easily afford to pay more,” Graham stated in relation to the wider offshore disputes earlier this year.
Unite industrial officer John Boland warned in July that “hundreds of offshore workers have been left with no choice but to take strike action or to hold ballots due to the greed of their employers,” adding that “there is still time to resolve these disputes and we would urge these companies to get back round the negotiating table before platforms are brought to a standstill”.
UK’s Largest Producer Under Pressure
Harbour Energy has been steadily retreating from the UK North Sea, citing the impact of the Energy Profits Levy, a windfall tax that now stands at 38% and has been extended to 2030. In May 2025, Harbour announced plans to cut 250 jobs in Aberdeen, representing approximately a quarter of its UK workforce, as part of a broader reorganisation of its British operations.
Specialist Provider in Difficult Position
MCL Medics, an Aberdeen-based occupational health services provider founded in 1999, specialises in supplying medical staffing for onshore, offshore, and remote locations across the global energy sector. The company employs between 51 and 200 people and has built a reputation for providing comprehensive remote medical services, including 24/7 topside support and offshore medic deployment.
What Happens Next
With the first strike date scheduled for 21-22 November, Harbour Energy and MCL Medics have limited time to reach a settlement that would avert disruption. The company has not publicly commented on contingency plans for maintaining operations during the stoppages or whether alternative medical cover arrangements are being pursued.
Neither Harbour Energy nor MCL Medics responded to requests for comment at time of publication.
