The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 2026

Explanatory note

Reproduced verbatim from the instrument as published on legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). The note is prepared by the responsible government department and is not part of the instrument itself.

Article 2 of this Order establishes, under section 22 of the Petroleum Act 1987 (c. 12) (“ the Act ”), safety zones having a radius of 500 metres from the specified point around the three installations (which are subsea installations) specified in the Schedule to this Order stationed in waters to which section 21(7) of the Act applies (these include territorial waters and waters in areas designated under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964 (c. 29) ).

An automatic safety zone was established around the installation known as Global Producer III. It is intended that this installation will be removed by the end of 2027. In order to maintain a safety zone around this installation as dismantlement is completed, the automatic safety zone will be replicated by the safety zone established by this Order.

An automatic safety zone was established around the installation known as Solan. It is intended that this installation will be removed by the end of 2029. In order to maintain a safety zone around this installation as dismantlement is completed, the automatic safety zone will be replicated by the safety zone established by this Order.

An automatic safety zone was established around the installation known as Wenlock. That installation is being dismantled. In order to maintain a safety zone around this installation as dismantlement is completed, the automatic safety zone will be replicated by the safety zone established by this Order.

Section 23(1) of the Act prohibits vessels, which for these purposes include hovercraft, submersible apparatus (as defined in section 88(4) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (c. 21) ) and installations in transit, from entering or remaining in a safety zone except with the consent of the Health and Safety Executive or in accordance with regulations made under section 23(1) of the Act (currently regulation 21H of the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995 ( S.I. 1995/738 ), inserted by paragraph 14 of Schedule 13 to S.I. 2015/398 ).

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) publishes nautical charts covering the area in which installations are located, which include information on the existence and, where the scale allows, the location of safety zones (UKHO, Admiralty Way, Taunton, Somerset TA1 2DN, https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-hydrographic-office ). Mariners are advised to keep paper charts up-to-date by using appropriate Notices to Mariners or, where electronic charts are used, to subscribe to an appropriate updating service. Vessels meeting the requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 will carry nautical charts and nautical publications (such as Notices to Mariners) to plan and display the ship’s route for the intended voyage and to plot and monitor positions throughout the voyage. This may be compulsory for some vessels, for example under the Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Regulations 2020 ( S.I. 2020/673 ). The UKHO also broadcasts Radio Navigational Warnings in relation to safety zones where updates to charts have yet to take effect and where installations are in transit.

Maritime safety information, which includes information on safety zones, is issued via the appropriate International Maritime Organisation, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System broadcast systems as defined by the World-Wide Navigational Warning Service.

Articles 3 and 4 remove three safety zones established under previous Orders.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.