Wednesday was cold but the evening sky was bright in Aberdeen. It was the kind of night when you would have seen the city buzzing barely 18 months ago.

The Blue Moon Indian restaurant had all its tables set, lights blazing and waiters waiting... for customers. It was deserted, although it’s fair to say January is always a slow month.

Next morning, down by the docks where a row of offshore support vessels (OSVs) were lined up, Dave Simmers was crowded out.

He