Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Act 2015

Amendment to section 6 of Continental Shelf Act 1968 - protection of installations in designated areas

23. The following is substituted for section 6 of the Continental Shelf Act 1968 :

“6. (1) The Minister shall, for the purpose of protecting any installation in a designated area, after consultation with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, by order, subject to any exceptions provided in the order, prohibit ships from entering within a distance of 500 metres from any part of an installation without the consent of the Minister.

(2) A prohibition under subsection (1) shall not apply to a ship entering or remaining in that part of the designated area to which the prohibition relates—

(a) in connection with the laying, inspection, testing, repair, maintenance, alteration, renewal or removal of any submarine cable or pipeline in or near that part,

(b) to provide services for or to transport persons or goods to or from any installation in that part,

(c) to inspect any installation or connected infrastructure in that part under the authority of the Minister, another Minister of the Government or another Member State,

(d) in connection with saving or attempting to save life or property,

(e) owing to stress of weather,

(f) when in distress, or

(g) where there is consent in writing from the operator or owner of the installation concerned.

(2) If a ship enters part of a designated area in contravention of an order under this section, its owner and master each commits an offence unless it is shown that the prohibition imposed by the order was not and would not on reasonable inquiry have become known to the master.

(3) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a class A fine, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €50,000.”.