This Order may be cited as the Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 2) Order 2025.
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 2) Order 2025 establishes new 500-meter maritime safety zones around two specific offshore installations identified in its Schedule, exercising powers granted by the Petroleum Act 1987 following recommendations from the Health and Safety Executive. Furthermore, the Order simultaneously amends and revokes safety zones previously established by four separate Orders from 2007 and 2008 concerning certain wells or structures, notably within the Chestnut Field and Kingfisher area.
The zones prohibit unauthorized entry by vessels, installations in transit, or submersible apparatus.
Arguments For
Ensures maritime safety by establishing mandatory 500-meter exclusion zones around critical offshore infrastructure, as designated in the Schedule.
Implements necessary safety measures based on proposals from the Health and Safety Executive, fulfilling regulatory obligations under the Petroleum Act 1987.
Maintains continuous safety coverage for the Galahad installation during its dismantling phase by replicating a previously existing automatic safety zone with a static zone.
Provides clarity to mariners by specifying the exact coordinates (WGS 84) for the new zones, aiding navigation safety through published charts and warnings.
Arguments Against
The Order involves the revocation of four previously established safety zones (Articles 3-6), which may temporarily reduce the safety buffer around specific sites if decommissioning or modification has occurred.
The order relies on existing legislation (Petroleum Act 1987) and reliance on bodies like the UKHO for chart updates, creating potential lag if communication systems are delayed.
The Explanation states no significant impact on the private, voluntary, or public sectors is foreseen, suggesting limited engagement or analysis regarding potential operational constraints on maritime traffic in the newly deregulated zones.
The Secretary of State issues this Order by using statutory powers found in Section 22 of the Petroleum Act 1987.
This action is also taken to implement specific suggestions submitted by the Health and Safety Executive under Section 24(2A) of the same Act.
Citation and commencement1.
(1)
(2)
This Order comes into force 21 days after the day on which it is made.
The title of this legal instrument is the Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 2) Order 2025.
The Order formally takes effect 21 days after the date it is officially implemented.
Establishment of safety zones2.
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 19843 specified in columns 2 and 3 of the table in the Schedule.
A safety zone, with a 500-meter radius, is created around every installation listed in the Schedule.
These installations must be located in designated waters defined by Section 21(7) of the Petroleum Act 1987.
The center point of the zone is defined by precise latitude and longitude coordinates, which use the World Geodetic System 1984 standard.
Amendment of the Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 2) Order 20073.
(1)
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 2) Order 20074 is amended as follows.
(2)
In the Schedule, omit the entry relating to “Chestnut Field Well 22/2A-12, Block 22/2A, Chestnut Field”.
This part amends the Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 2) Order 2007.
Specifically, it removes the entry designated for the "Chestnut Field Well 22/2A-12, Block 22/2A, Chestnut Field" from that Order's Schedule.
Amendment of the Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 3) Order 20074.
(1)
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 3) Order 20075 is amended as follows.
(2)
In the Schedule, omit the entry relating to “Well 22-11x, Block 22/2A, Chestnut Field”.
This outlines an amendment to the Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 3) Order 2007.
The amendment directs the removal of the entry associated with the "Well 22-11x, Block 22/2A, Chestnut Field" from its schedule.
Amendment of the Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 2) Order 20085.
(1)
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 2) Order 20086 is amended as follows.
(2)
In the Schedule, omit the entry relating to “Chestnut Field Well 22/2A-15, Block 22/2A, Chestnut Field”.
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 2) Order 2008 is amended according to the terms of this Order.
Specifically, the entry concerning the "Chestnut Field Well 22/2A-15, Block 22/2A, Chestnut Field" is deleted from its Schedule.
Amendment of the Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 2) Order 20226.
(1)
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 2) Order 20227, is amended as follows.
(2)
In the Schedule (installations), in Part 1, omit the entry relating to “Kingfisher BP1.1 Wellhead, Kingfisher, Block 16/8a”.
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) (No. 2) Order 2022 also receives an amendment.
In Part 1 of its Schedule, the specific entry for the "Kingfisher BP1.1 Wellhead, Kingfisher, Block 16/8a" is deleted.
Signed by the authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Stephen Timms
Minister of State
Department for Work and Pensions
The Order was formally signed on December 8, 2025, by Stephen Timms, acting in his capacity as Minister of State for the Department for Work and Pensions, under the authority of the Secretary of State.
ScheduleINSTALLATIONS
(1) Name or other designation | (2) Latitude | (3) Longitude |
|---|---|---|
Abbey Wellhead Protection Structure, Abbey Field, Block 47/03i | 53° 56.08’N | 00° 31.35’E |
Galahad Installation, Galahad Field, Block 48/12a | 53° 32.75’N | 01° 21.54’E |
The Schedule lists the specific offshore installations for which safety zones are established under Article 2.
It provides three columns: the installation's name or designation (1), its latitude (2), and its longitude (3).
The listed installations are the Abbey Wellhead Protection Structure and the Galahad Installation.
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 two installations (which are subsea installations) specified in the Schedule to this Order stationed in waters to which section 21(7) of that 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 Galahad. 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 to 6 remove four 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.
This explanatory note clarifies that Article 2 establishes 500-meter safety zones, pursuant to the Petroleum Act 1987, around the two subsea installations listed in the Schedule, located in waters including territorial seas.
The Galahad installation's existing automatic zone is being replaced by this static zone as dismantling proceeds.
Section 23(1) of the Act prohibits vessels (including hovercraft and submersible apparatus) and moving installations from entering these zones without consent from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Navigators must consult UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) charts and Notices to Mariners for zone locations, as the UKHO publishes this data and issues warnings for transit hazards.
Maritime safety data is disseminated through IMO distress and safety systems.
Articles 3 through 6 revoke four zones established under earlier Orders.
The note concludes by stating that no significant impact assessment was necessary because the expected effects on public, private, or voluntary sectors are negligible.
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