The video, uploaded to the Life at Sea on an ERRV Facebook page, was taken about 100 nautical miles (115 miles) north-east of Shetland from an emergency response and rescue vehicle (ERRV). This is a ship which operates near oil and gas installations for safety-critical tasks, such as during helicopter transfers.

The video, taken on Saturday, shows a pod of what are thought to be pilot whales breaching the the water and swimming just yards from the ERRV, close to an oil platform in the North Sea.

Chief Officer Graeme Hately, who witnessed the incredible sight, said: “It’s always amazing to see such marine life. It’s not that uncommon though. We usually see orca, sometimes in quite large pods of 30 plus. They are sometimes passing through, but usually hunting in the area.”

The pod of whales was filmed swimming about 100 nautical miles north-east of Shetland.

Video footage shared a couple of years ago by Mr Hately shows orca hunting in the same area as the whales captured on film on Saturday.

The latest video was taken on the crew’s last day on location having completed two months at sea.

Amazing close-up footage shows pod of whales swimming in North Sea 100 miles north-east of Shetland