First Minister Alex Salmond told an offshore industry gathering that the Aberdeen-based North Sea sector must look to Norway’s safety record as the Scottish Government seeks to replicate the success of its oil wealth.
The supper, at the Town House in Aberdeen, came ahead of the first day of the giant Offshore Europe conference in the city today, and marked the loss of four lives in the helicopter crash off Shetland.
Mr Salmond said that approaches in other countries like Norway, which has a significantly better helicopter safety record would be instructive.
And, invoking Norway’s Oil Fund now the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world Mr Salmond said Holyrood’s Fiscal Commission Working Group would publish its recommendations for the establishment of a native equivalent “shortly”.
Meanwhile, delegates from the world’s second biggest oil and gas conference are flooding hotels across Scotland, as they clamour for accommodation during the Offshore Europe conference.
“We know that the city is full this week and we know that a lot of it is coming from Offshore Europe,” said Richard Ellison, general manager at Dundee’s Hilton Doubletree.
“That combines with the Food and Flower Festival at the end of the week, and the Leuchars airshow.”