S.I. No. 395 of 2006

Continental Shelf (Protection of Installations) (Corrib Gas Field) Order 2006

I, Noel Dempsey, Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 6 (1) (inserted by section 5(3) of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1995 (No. 35 of 1995)) of the Continental Shelf Act 1968 (No. 14 of 1968), and the Petroleum and Offshore Exploration (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997 ( S.I. No. 429 of 1997 )(as adapted by the Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 ( S.I. No. 307 of 2002 )), hereby, for the purpose of protecting installations in a part of the area standing designated by the Continental Shelf (Designated Areas) Order 1993 ( S.I. No. 92 of 1993 ), order as follows:

1.       This Order may be cited as the Continental Shelf (Protection of Installations) (Corrib Gas Field) Order 2006.

2.       Subject to Article 3, ships are prohibited from entering the areas specified in the Schedule without the consent of the Minister.

3.       Article 2 does not apply in relation to -

(a)        ships providing any services requested by the lessee under the Petroleum Lease dated 13 November 2001 and made between the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources of the first part, the Minister for Finance of the second part and Shell E&P Ireland Ltd and its co-venturers of the third part,

(b)        ships in distress or carrying out movements with a view to saving or attempting to save life or property or entering the area specified in the Schedule owing to stress of weather, or

(c)        ships belonging to, or employed in the service of, the State and used for defence or fishery protection purposes.

SCHEDULE

1.       Those parts of the area standing designated by the Continental Shelf (Designated Areas) Order 1993 ( S.I. No. 92 of 1993 ) that are-

(a) within four circles of 500m radius the centre points of which circles are the co-ordinates:

, and

(b) the area between the above circles bounded by two approximately parallel lines tangential to and between the four circles.

2.       The above co-ordinates of latitude and longitude are the co-ordinates of latitude and longitude in datum WGS84, UTM Zone 29,9° West.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Statutory Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation).

This Order establishes a safety zone around four seabed facilities and the connecting areas in the Corrib Gas Field and prohibits ships from entering the zone except with the consent of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources or in the circumstances provided for in Article 3 of the Order.