"I think NVG's have been considered, but there's too much lighting around the rigs to make it a reasonable solution. You're right, it's probably quite often disorientation while low level shuttling close into the rigs"
From the one or landings to rigs I have done with the use of NVGs it is the lighting around the rigs that can make the use of NVGs much better - you really do get the best of both worlds - much better contrast with the water on goggles due to the large amount of ambient light around the rigs, lots of light which gives the ability to use peripheral cues "outside the goggles" as well. Later generation of NVG also handle high ambient light environments much better.
NVG aren't a silver bullet however IMHO certainly do have some really good advantages for offshore work - have any trials actually been performed in order to determine what they could do for the industry???