Offshore sector resource
Offshore Worker Accommodation Resource: Scotland
Offshore accommodation is a logistics problem before it is a property problem. Crews arrive the night before a flight, get weathered off, sit for two days, then fly. Booking that pattern as individual hotel nights is expensive and fragile — the rooms disappear exactly when a weather delay means everyone needs one.
This resource covers how to base crews around Aberdeen's heliports and Scotland's supply ports, how much weather-delay contingency to hold, and what exclusive-use property costs per head against hotels in each hub.
Offshore accommodation cost benchmarks by city
| City | Per head / night | Hotel equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | £42–£70 | £95–£160 | Dyce, Bridge of Don and Altens basing for heliport and harbour crew changes. |
| Dundee | £36–£50 | £80–£110 | Port of Dundee mobilisations and offshore wind vessel crews. |
| Inverness | £42–£60 | £95–£150 | Access to Nigg, Invergordon and Cromarty Firth fabrication and marshalling. |
| Glasgow | £40–£58 | £90–£130 | Airport-side basing for international crews transiting to the north east. |
| Edinburgh | £50–£72 | £120–£210 | Used for inbound international crew arrivals before onward transfer. |
| Perth | £40–£55 | £85–£115 | Mid-point basing when crews split between east-coast ports. |
Figures are indicative per-head, per-night rates for exclusive-use furnished properties booked for 7 nights or more, based on Trade Rentals bookings across Scotland in the last 12 months. Hotel comparison uses mid-week mid-market room rates in the same city. Rates exclude VAT and vary with headcount, season and property type.
Planning checklists
Crew-change basing
- Drive time to heliport or quayside checked at 05:00, not midday
- 24-hour access — key safes or coded entry rather than a staffed reception
- Secure storage for bags and offshore kit during the trip
- Parking retained for the full offshore trip, not just the overnight stay
- Enough beds for the whole crew in one property to keep transfers simple
Weather-delay contingency
- Hold two nights of contingency per mobilisation in the shoulder seasons
- Agree a rolling-extension clause rather than re-booking each delayed night
- Confirm catering or self-catering provision for unplanned days ashore
- Nominate one coordinator to authorise extensions out of hours
- Track delay nights separately so the cost is visible against the project
Documentation and duty of care
- Current occupant list per property for emergency response
- Property safety records available for client HSE audit
- Out-of-hours escalation contact issued to the crew, not just the office
- Alcohol and conduct policy communicated where the client requires it
- Clear reporting line for maintenance issues during a trip
Mobilisation timeline
- 1
Campaign planning — 3–6 months out
Register mobilisation windows and expected crew sizes for the campaign.
- 2
Trip confirmation — 3–4 weeks out
Confirm crew numbers, flight or sailing window and contingency nights.
- 3
Pre-mobilisation — Week of travel
Issue property details, access instructions and heliport drive times.
- 4
Weather hold — As required
Rolling extension applied automatically under the agreed clause.
- 5
Back-to-back trips — Ongoing
Retain the property between trips where the campaign cadence justifies it.
Standards and compliance
Exclusive use for every crew
Whole-property lets keep a crew together and simplify transfers, kit storage and headcounts.
OPITO-aligned expectations
Offshore operators increasingly audit onshore crew accommodation under the same welfare expectations as offshore rest facilities — quiet, private beds and adequate rest space.
24-hour access
Coded or key-safe entry so crews can arrive and depart at any hour without a staffed reception.
Full safety documentation
Gas safety certificate, EICR and fire detection records held for every property and available for client audit.
Where offshore teams are based in Scotland
Aberdeen accommodation
Dyce heliport, Aberdeen harbour and the majority of North Sea crew changes.
Northeast Scotland
Dundee accommodation
Port of Dundee vessel crews and offshore wind mobilisations.
East Coast
Inverness accommodation
Cromarty Firth, Nigg and Invergordon marshalling and fabrication.
Highlands
Glasgow accommodation
Airport-side basing for international crews in transit.
Central Belt
Edinburgh accommodation
Inbound international arrivals before onward transfer north.
Central Belt
Perth accommodation
Mid-point basing for crews splitting across east-coast ports.
Central Scotland
Looking for the service overview rather than the planning reference? See our offshore accommodation service.
Frequently asked questions
Further reading
Related sector resources
Related locations for offshore projects
The city and regional hubs closest to most offshore programmes in Scotland — local costs, property types and availability.
City hubs
- Aberdeen accommodationOil & Gas, Offshore Wind, Subsea Engineering teams — exclusive-use housing across Aberdeen.Northeast Scotland
- Dundee accommodationWorkforce housing on Scotland's waterfront.East Coast
- Edinburgh accommodationServiced apartments in Scotland's capital.Central Belt
- Glasgow accommodationBusiness accommodation across Scotland's largest city.Central Belt
- Inverness accommodationProject accommodation for the Highland Capital.Highlands
- Perth accommodationBusiness accommodation at Scotland's crossroads.Central Scotland
Regional hubs
All locations we cover
Every city and regional hub across Scotland, if your project sits outside the areas above.
City hubs
Regional hubs
Need offshore accommodation costed for your project?
Send us dates, headcount and location and we'll come back with a firm quote within 24 hours.