The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 2025
The 2025 Order established safety zones around five offshore installations, impacting maritime traffic around those locations.
The Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 2025 establishes 500-meter safety zones around five offshore installations in UK waters.
Two installations were already in place when the Order was made and two more will be in place from March or April 2025.
The order is based on the Petroleum Act 1987 and proposals from the Health and Safety Executive, aiming to enhance maritime safety by preventing vessels from entering or remaining in these zones without consent or in accordance with regulations.
Arguments For
Enhanced Maritime Safety: The establishment of safety zones around offshore installations reduces the risk of collisions and other accidents involving vessels and the installations. This protects both the environment and human life.
Compliance with Petroleum Act 1987: The Order directly implements Section 22 of the Petroleum Act 1987, fulfilling a legal obligation to establish safety regulations around offshore installations.
Clear and Defined Safety Zones: The specific coordinates and radii of the safety zones provide clear guidance to mariners, reducing ambiguity and potential for incidents.
Health and Safety Executive Collaboration: The Order incorporates proposals submitted by the Health and Safety Executive, reflecting expert input and promoting a collaborative approach to ensuring safety at sea.
Arguments Against
Potential for Operational Disruptions: The restrictions on vessel movements within the safety zones might cause minor delays or disruption to shipping routes around the offshore installations.
Enforcement Challenges: Effectively enforcing the restrictions within the safety zones, particularly for vessels not compliant with regulations, might present challenges.
Technological Dependence: The reliance on accurate coordinates and navigational systems for the definitions of safety zones necessitates ongoing maintenance and checks of the technology used.
Cost of Implementation: While the initial cost of establishing safety zones may be relatively low, the long-term costs of maintaining clear signage and communication to mariners need to be considered.
- Citation and commencement (1) This Order may be cited as the Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 2025. (2) This Order comes into force 21 days after the day on which it is made (“the general coming into force date”), except for article 2(2) which comes into force as provided in article 2(3).
This section details the Order's title and effective date.
The Order is officially titled the 'Offshore Installations (Safety Zones) Order 2025'.
It takes effect 21 days after its creation, with one exception noted in Article 2.
- Establishment of safety zones (1) A safety zone is established around each installation specified in column 1 of the table in Part 1 of 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 500 metres, as respects that installation, from the point which has the co-ordinates of latitude and longitude according to the World Geodetic System 1984 specified in columns 2 and 3 of the table in Part 1 of the Schedule. (2) A safety zone is established around each installation specified in column 1 of the table in Part 2 of the Schedule (being an installation to be stationed in waters to which subsection (7) of section 21 of the Petroleum Act 1987 applies) having a radius of 500 metres, as respects that installation, from the point which has the co-ordinates of latitude and longitude according to the World Geodetic System 1984 specified in columns 2 and 3 of the table in Part 2 of the Schedule. (3) Paragraph (2) comes into force, as respects each installation—(a) on the general coming into force date, where the installation arrives at its station before that date; and (b) when the installation arrives at its station, in any other case.
This section establishes the safety zones.
A 500-meter radius safety zone surrounds each installation listed in the Schedule's Part 1 (those already in place) and Part 2 (those to be installed).
The coordinates for each zone are specified using the World Geodetic System 1984.
For any installations in Part 2, the safety zones take effect on the general coming into force date, if the installation is in place beforehand; otherwise, they take effect when the installation is in place.
Schedule Installations Part 1 Installations stationed at the time this Order is made [Table of installations with names, latitude, and longitude] Part 2 Installations not stationed at the time this Order is made [Table of installations with names, latitude, and longitude]
This schedule provides details of the offshore installations around which safety zones are established.
Part 1 lists installations already positioned, and Part 2 lists installations yet to be positioned.
Each entry shows the installation's name, latitude, and longitude coordinates.
Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Order) [Details of the Order, relevant acts it refers to, and information on maritime safety and publishing of charts]
This explanatory note provides background information and clarifies how the order interacts with existing legislation and maritime practices relating to safety around offshore installations.
It outlines how information about the safety zones is communicated to mariners through charts, notices, and broadcasts.
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