Police Scotland has introduced a high-priority, dedicated phoneline for use by the UK oil and gas industry to report ongoing emergencies offshore where there is a danger to life.
This new line has been established to strengthen coordination between industry and emergency services during critical incidents at sea, ensuring faster response times and improved safety for offshore workers.
In all other circumstances, members of the industry and public should continue to use standard emergency contact routes:
- Dial 999 to report any emergency, including urgent situations where there is a threat to life or any ongoing crime or harm.
- Dial 101 to report less urgent crimes or suspicious incidents.
Suspicious incidents offshore could include unidentified or spoof vessels, drones engaged in hostile reconnaissance, or potential sabotage activities. Such incidents should be reported to HM Coastguard and Police Scotland immediately while they are ongoing, as this provides the best opportunity to identify and trace those responsible. If possible, any footage or imagery of such activity should also be shared with Police Scotland to assist in investigations.
The Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC) is currently developing a new portal to help streamline the reporting of these incidents, and further updates will be shared once the system becomes available.
For emergencies offshore where there is a danger to life, please use the dedicated phoneline provided by Police Scotland. For all other incidents, use 999 or 101 as appropriate.