More than 30,000 training licences have been issued to companies working in the North Sea since the introduction of Minimum Industry Safety Training (MIST) standards, according to Atlas Interactive.

The company, which holds responsibility for providing MIST courses for experienced workers in the North Sea oil and gas industry, announced that more than three-quarters of all offshore workers have now taken the training.

By the end of the year, the company predicts that this proportion will rise to 90 per cent.

"An entirely voluntary programme, reaching the 30,000 milestone is testament to the continued commitment within the industry towards ensuring the highest possible safety standards among its workforce," said David Binnie, managing director of Opito.

The announcement comes as the North Sea industry faces close scrutiny in regards to training and safety standards, particularly after a government report slammed BP for failing to ensure its UK rig workers were adequately prepared to respond to a crisis.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development