Statoil has said preparations are being made to transport the Mariner topside to the North Sea despite reports casting doubt on the future of the yard handling its construction.
Offshore trade unions intend to serve North Sea employers with strike ballot notices in the coming weeks with no sign of talks on the horizon, it is understood.
Scottish scientists will play a key role in an initiative that just won £7.6million worth of funding to research carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.
Gulf Marine Services (GMS) said today that it had clinched two long-term contracts to provide offshore accommodation for Dong Energy's Hornsea wind farm project.