Petroleum Act 1987

Safety zones U.K.

21 Automatic establishment of safety zones. U.K.

(1) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), there shall be a safety zone around every installation which, or part of which, is in waters to which subsection (7) applies if—

(a) it is stationed there so that any of the activities mentioned in subsection (2) may be carried out on, from or by means of it, or

(b) it is being assembled at a station where it is to be used for such a purpose, or

(c) it remains or is being dismantled at a station where it has been used for such a purpose.

(2) The activities referred to in subsection (1) are—

(a) the exploitation or exploration of mineral resources in or under the shore or bed of waters to which subsection (7) applies;

(b) the storage of gas in or under the shore or bed of such waters or the recovery of gas so stored;

(c) the conveyance of things by means of a pipe, or system of pipes, constructed or placed on, in or under the shore or bed of such waters;

(d) the provision of accommodation for persons who work on or from an installation satisfying the condition in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1).

(3) Subsection (1) shall not apply to an installation in respect of which an order under section 22 has effect, or to one which—

(a) is connected with dry land by a permanent structure providing access at all times and for all purposes, or

(b) does not project above the sea at any state of the tide.

(4) The Secretary of State may by order exclude any installation or any description of installation from the operation of subsection (1), and may do so generally or by reference to specified activities or locations or in any other way.

(5) A safety zone established by subsection (1) shall extend to every point within 500 metres of any part of the installation (ignoring any moorings) and to every point in the water which is vertically above or below such a point.

(6) A safety zone established by subsection (1) may extend to waters outside waters to which subsection (7) applies.

(7) The waters to which this subsection applies are—

(a) tidal waters and parts of the sea in or adjacent to the United Kingdom up to the seaward limits of the territorial sea, and

(b) waters in an area designated under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 21-24: power to repeal or modify conferred (E.W.S.) (6. 3. 1992) by Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c. 15), s.1 (amending Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (c. 37), s. 15).

C2 Ss. 21-24 modified (E.W.S.) (6. 3. 1992) by Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c. 15), s. 1(5).

C3 Ss. 21-24: power to repeal or modify conferred (N.I.) (15. 9. 1992) by S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), arts. 1(2), 3(2)(a).

Ss. 21-24 modified (N.I.) (15. 9. 1992) by S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), arts. 1(2), 3(5).

Ss. 21- 23 applied (19.3.1997) by 1997 c. 28 s. 13, Sch. 2, para. 4(6)(b)

C4 S. 21 applied (6.4.2009) by Energy Act 2008 (c. 32), ss. 32, 110(2); S.I. 2009/45, art. 4(a)(ii)

C5 S. 21(7) modified (E.W.S.) (6. 3. 1992) by Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c. 15), s. 1(5)(c).

S. 21(7) modified (N.I.) (15.9.1992) by S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), arts. 1(2), 3(5)

22 Establishment of safety zones by order. U.K.

(1) The Secretary of State may by order establish a safety zone around any installation which, or part of which, is stationed in waters to which subsection (7) of section 21 applies, or is being assembled or dismantled in such waters.

(2) The area of a safety zone established by an order under this section shall be defined in the order and may extend outside waters to which subsection (7) of section 21 applies, but shall not extend to any point which would be outside a zone defined in accordance with subsection (5) of that section.

(3) An order under this section may be made in anticipation of an installation’s arriving at its station, so as to come into force when it does so.

Subordinate Legislation Made

P1 S. 22: for exercises of this power see Index to Government Orders

P2 S. 22(1)(2) power exercised by S.I. 1991/207

P3 S. 22(1)(2) power exercised by S.I.1991/650

S. 22(1)(2): s. 22(1)(2) power exercised (27.08.1991) by S.I.1991/1922

S. 22(1)(2): s. 22(1)(2) power exercised (25.11.1991) by S.I. 1991/2669.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C6 Ss. 21-24: power to repeal or modify conferred (E.W.S.) (6. 3. 1992) by Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c. 15), s.1 (amending Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (c. 37), s. 15).

C7 Ss. 21-24 modified (E.W.S.) (6. 3. 1992) by Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c. 15), s. 1(5).

C8 Ss. 21-24: power to repeal or modify conferred (N.I.) (15. 9. 1992) by S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), arts. 1(2), 3(2)(a).

Ss. 21-24 modified (N.I.) (15. 9. 1992) by S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), arts. 1(2), 3(5).

Ss. 21-23 applied (19.3.1997) by 1997 c. 28 s. 13, Sch. 2, para. 4(6)(b)

23 Safety zones: offences. E+W+S

(1) Where by virtue of this Act there is a safety zone around an installation, no vessel shall enter or remain in the zone except—

(a) in the case of a safety zone established by an order under section 22, in accordance with that order, or

(b) in that or any other case, in accordance with regulations made [F1 by the Secretary of State or a consent given by the Health and Safety Executive].

(2) If a vessel enters or remains in a safety zone in contravention of subsection (1) then, subject to subsection (3), its owner and its master shall each be guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.

(3) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that the presence of the installation or the existence of the safety zone was not, and would not on reasonable enquiry have become, known to the master.

(4) Where the commission by any person of an offence under this section is due to the act or default of some other person, that other person shall also be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(5) Where an offence committed by a body corporate under this section is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(6) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (5) shall apply in relation to acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body corporate.

(7) Proceedings for an offence under this section may be taken, and the offence may for all incidental purposes be treated as having been committed, in any place in the United Kingdom.

(8) In this section “vessel” includes a hovercraft, submersible apparatus (within the meaning of section [F2 88(4) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995]) and an installation in transit; and “master”—

(a) in relation to a hovercraft, means the captain,

(b) in relation to submersible apparatus, means the person in charge of the apparatus, and

(c) in relation to an installation in transit, means the person in charge of the transit operation.

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales and Scotland only; a separate version has been created for Northern Ireland only.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 23(1)(b) substituted (E.W.S.) (23.8.1993) by S.I. 1993/1823, reg. 4(4)(a) (with s. 6(2)).

F2 Words in s. 23(8) substituted (1.1.1996) by 1995 c. 21, ss. 314(2), 316(2), Sch. 13 para. 78 (with s. 312(1))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C9 Ss. 21-24: power to repeal or modify conferred (E.W.S.) (6. 3. 1992) by Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c. 15), s. 1 (amending Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (c. 37), s. 15).

Ss. 21- 23 applied (19.3.1997) by 1997 c. 28 s. 13, Sch. 2 para. 4(6)(b)

C10 Ss. 21-24 modified (E.W.S.) (6. 3. 1992) by Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c. 15), s. 1(5).

C11 S. 23 applied (6.4.2009) by Energy Act 2008 (c. 32), ss. 32, 110(2); S.I. 2009/45, art. 4(a)(ii)

23 Safety zones: offences. N.I.

(1) Where by virtue of this Act there is a safety zone around an installation, no vessel shall enter or remain in the zone except—

(a) in the case of a safety zone established by an order under section 22, in accordance with that order, or

(b) in that or any other case, in accordance with regulations made [F7 by the Secretary of State or a consent given by [F8 the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland]].

(2) If a vessel enters or remains in a safety zone in contravention of subsection (1) then, subject to subsection (3), its owner and its master shall each be guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.

(3) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that the presence of the installation or the existence of the safety zone was not, and would not on reasonable enquiry have become, known to the master.

(4) Where the commission by any person of an offence under this section is due to the act or default of some other person, that other person shall also be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(5) Where an offence committed by a body corporate under this section is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(6) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (5) shall apply in relation to acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body corporate.

(7) Proceedings for an offence under this section may be taken, and the offence may for all incidental purposes be treated as having been committed, in any place in the United Kingdom.

(8) In this section “vessel” includes a hovercraft, submersible apparatus (within the meaning of section [F9 88(4) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995]) and an installation in transit; and “master”—

(a) in relation to a hovercraft, means the captain,

(b) in relation to submersible apparatus, means the person in charge of the apparatus, and

(c) in relation to an installation in transit, means the person in charge of the transit operation.

Extent Information

E3 This version of this provision extends to Northern Ireland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales and Scotland only.

Textual Amendments

F7 Words in s. 23(1)(b) substituted (N.I.) (1.11.1993) by S.R. 1993/384, reg. 4(3)(a) (with reg. 6(2)).

F8 Words in s. 23(1)(b) substituted (1.4.1999) by S.R. 1999/150, reg. 2, Sch.

F9 Words in s. 23(8) substituted (1.1.1996) by 1995 c. 21, ss. 314(2), 316(2), Sch. 13 para. 78 (with s. 312(1))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C11 S. 23 applied (6.4.2009) by Energy Act 2008 (c. 32), ss. 32, 110(2); S.I. 2009/45, art. 4(a)(ii)

C15 Ss. 21-24: power to repeal or modify conferred (N.I.) (15. 9. 1992) by S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), arts. 1(2), 3(2)(a).

Ss. 21-24 modified (N.I.) (15. 9. 1992) by S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), arts. 1(2), 3(5).

Ss. 21-23 applied (19.3.1997) by 1997 c. 28 s. 13, Sch. 2 para. 4(6)(b)

24 Safety zones: supplementary. E+W+S

(1) For the purposes of sections 21 to 23—

(a) any floating structure or device maintained on a station by whatever means, and

(b) any apparatus or works treated as associated with a pipe or system of pipes by [F3 section 26 of the Petroleum Act 1998] (but not anything else within the definition of pipe-line in that section),

shall be taken to be an installation.

(2) Any power to make orders or regulations under sections 21 to 23 shall be exercisable by statutory instrument, and a statutory instrument containing an order under section 21 or regulations under section 23 shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

[F4 (2A) It shall be the duty of [F5 the Health and Safety Executive ] to submit from time to time to the Secretary of State such proposals as [F5 the Executive] considers appropriate for the making of orders under section 21 or 22. ]

(3) Sections 21 to 23—

(a) so far as they apply to individuals, apply to them whether or not they are British citizens, and

(b) so far as they apply to bodies corporate, apply to them whether or not they are incorporated in any part of the United Kingdom.

(4) F6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) F6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) F6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Extent Information

E2 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales and Scotland only; a separate version has been created for Northern Ireland only.

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in s. 24(1)(b) substituted (15.2.1999) by 1998 c. 17, s. 50, Sch. 4, para. 23; S.I. 1999/161, art. 2(1) (with Sch. 3 para. 5)

F4 S. 24(2A) inserted (E.W.S.) (23.8.1993) by S.I. 1993/1823, reg. 4(4)(b) (with reg. 6(2)).

F5 Words in s. 24(2A) substituted (1.4.2008) by Legislative Reform (Health and Safety Executive) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/960), art. 1, Sch. 3 (with art. 21, Sch. 2)

F6 S. 24(4)-(6) repealed (15.2.1999) by 1998 c. 17, ss. 51(1), 52(4), Sch. 5 Pt. I (with Sch. 3 para. 5(1)); S.I. 1999/161, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C12 Ss. 21-24: power to repeal or modify conferred (E.W.S.) (6. 3. 1992) by Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c. 15), s. 1 (amending Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (c. 37), s. 15).

C13 Ss. 21-24 modified (E.W.S.) (6. 3. 1992) by Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c. 15), s. 1(5).

C14 S. 24 applied (6.4.2009) by Energy Act 2008 (c. 32), ss. 32, 110(2); S.I. 2009/45, art. 4(a)(ii)

24 Safety zones: supplementary. N.I.

(1) For the purposes of sections 21 to 23—

(a) any floating structure or device maintained on a station by whatever means, and

(b) any apparatus or works treated as associated with a pipe or system of pipes by section [F10 26 of the Petroleum Act 1998] (but not anything else within the definition of pipe-line in that section),

shall be taken to be an installation.

(2) Any power to make orders or regulations under sections 21 to 23 shall be exercisable by statutory instrument, and a statutory instrument containing an order under section 21 or regulations under section 23 shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

[F11 (2A) It shall be the duty of [F12 the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland] to submit from time to time to the Secretary of State such proposals as [F12 the Executive] considers appropriate for the making of orders under section 21 or 22.]

(3) Sections 21 to 23—

(a) so far as they apply to individuals, apply to them whether or not they are British citizens, and

(b) so far as they apply to bodies corporate, apply to them whether or not they are incorporated in any part of the United Kingdom.

(4) F6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) F6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) F6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Extent Information

E4 This version of this provision extends to Northern Ireland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales and Scotland only.

Textual Amendments

F6 S. 24(4)-(6) repealed (15.2.1999) by 1998 c. 17, ss. 51(1), 52(4), Sch. 5 Pt. I (with Sch. 3 para. 5(1)); S.I. 1999/161, art. 2

F10 Words in s. 24(1)(b) substituted (15.2.1999) by 1998 c. 17, s.50, Sch.4 para. 23; S.I. 1999/161, art. 2(1) (with Sch. 3 para. 5)

F11 S. 24(2A) inserted (N.I.) (1.11.1993) by S.R. 1993/384, reg. 4(3)(b) (with reg. 6(2)).

F12 Words in s. 24(2A) substituted (1.4.1999) by S.R. 1999/150, reg. 2, Sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C14 S. 24 applied (6.4.2009) by Energy Act 2008 (c. 32), ss. 32, 110(2); S.I. 2009/45, art. 4(a)(ii)

C16 Ss. 21-24: power to repeal or modify conferred (N.I.) (15.9.1992) by S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), arts. 1(2), 3(2)(a).

Ss. 21-24 modified (N.I.) (15.9.1992) by S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), arts. 1(2), 3(5).