Official Gazette Notification Text
Official TranscriptStatus: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format. STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2026 No. 635 OFFSHORE INSTALLATIONS The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 2026 at 11.20 a.m. on 15th Made - - - - June 2026 Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) The Secretary of State makes this Order— (a) in...
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2026 No. 635 OFFSHORE INSTALLATIONS The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 2026 at 11.20 a.m. on 15th Made - - - - June 2026 Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) The Secretary of State makes this Order—
(a) in exercise of the powers conferred by section 22 of the Petroleum Act 1987(1); and
(b) for the purpose of giving effect to proposals submitted by the Health and Safety Executive under section 24(2A)(2) of that Act.
Citation and commencement
1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 2026.
(2) This Order comes into force 21 days after the day on which it is made.
Establishment of safety zones
2. A safety zone is established around each installation specified in column 1 of the table in the Schedule (being an installation stationed in waters to which subsection (7) of section 21 of the Petroleum Act 1987 applies) having a radius of five hundred metres, as respects that installation, from the point which has the co-ordinates of latitude and longitude according to the World Geodetic System 1984(3) specified in columns 2 and 3 of the table in the Schedule.
Amendment of the Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 1997
3.—(1) The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 1997(4) is amended as follows.
(2) In Schedule 1 (safety zones), omit—
(1) 1987 c. 12.
(2) Section 24(2A) was inserted by S.I. 1993/1823 and amended by S.I. 2008/960.
(3) The World Geodetic System 1984 (“WGS 84”) defines a reference frame for the Earth, for use in geodesy and navigation. It was developed by the United States’ National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and is maintained by it. WGS 84 is defined at paragraph 2.1 of the NGA Standardization Document, Department of Defense, World Geodetic System 1984 (updated 8 July 2014) (https://nsgreg.nga.mil/doc/view?i=4085). Hard copies are available upon request from the offices of the Health and Safety Executive, Aberdeen International Business Park (AIBP), Building 2, Level 1, Dyce Drive, Dyce, Aberdeen AB21 0BR.
(4) S.I. 1997/735.Document Generated: 2026-06-15
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
(a) the entry relating to “Thames Bure Wellhead”;
(b) the entry relating to “Thames Yare Wellhead”.
Amendment of the Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 7) Order 2007
4.—(1) The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 7) Order 2007(5) is amended as follows.
(2) In the Schedule (safety zones), omit the entry relating to “Victoria Subsea Production Well (49/17-14), Block 49/17, Victoria Field”.
Signed by the authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Stephen Timms Minister of State at 11.20 a.m. on 15th June 2026 Department for Work and Pensions
(5) S.I. 2007/3559.
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Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
Schedule Article 2 INSTALLATIONS
(1) Name or other designation (2) Latitude (3) Longitude Global Producer III, Donan, 58° 21.17’N 0° 51.76’E Balloch and Lochranza Field, Block 015/20a and 015/20b Solan, Solan Field, Block 60° 03.70’N 03° 58.27’W 205/26a Wenlock, Wenlock Field, Block 53° 35.17’N 02° 17.38’E 49/12a EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Order) 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, 3Document Generated: 2026-06-15
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
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.
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