An air and sea search has been launched for a man missing from an oil rig in the North Sea.

The 49-year-old, who works on the Noble Loyd Noble installation in the Mariner oil field about 90 miles (150km) east of Shetland, could not be located on board the platform.

Police were called to the rig at around 9.20pm on Tuesday evening.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "An extensive search of the rig itself and the water surrounding it is ongoing, led by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

"This involves the use of a search and rescue helicopter, two standby vessels and a platform supply vessel.


"We are working closely with the companies involved and next of kin to keep them informed of any developments."

The Noble Lloyd Noble installation is one of the world's largest jack-up rigs, with long support legs that can be raised or lowered to move the platform.

Drilling began in the Mariner oil field in 2016, and the rig is expected to produce its first oil in 2018.