The Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation Convention) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

Amendment of regulation 2

4.—(1) Regulation 2(interpretation) of the 1998 Regulations is amended as follows.

(2) Before the definition of “GT” insert—

““the 2013 Directive” means Directive 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on safety of offshore oil and gas operations and amending Directive 2004/35/EC(1);

“combined operation” has the meaning given in Article 2(25) of the 2013 Directive;

“connected infrastructure” means—

(3) After the definition of “GT” insert—

““major environmental incident arising from a major accident” means a major environmental incident (which has the meaning given in Article 2(37) of the 2013 Directive) which is caused by—

and for the purposes of determining whether an event constitutes a major accident under paragraphs (a) or (b), an offshore installation that is normally unattended is to be treated as if it were attended;.”.

(4) After the definition of “National Contingency Plan” insert—

““non-production installation” means an offshore installation other than a production installation;”.

(5) For the definition of “offshore installation” substitute—

““offshore installation” means a stationary, fixed or mobile facility, or a combination of facilities permanently inter-connected by bridges or other structures, which is—

but only includes mobile offshore drilling units (that term having the same meaning as in the 2013 Directive) when they are stationed in offshore waters for drilling, production or other activities associated with offshore oil and gas operations;.”.

(6) After the definition of “offshore installation” insert—

““offshore licence” has the meaning given in the Offshore Petroleum Licensing (Offshore Safety Directive) Regulations 2015(2);

“offshore oil and gas operations” has the meaning given in Article 2(3) of the 2013 Directive;

“offshore waters” means—

(7) In the definition of “oil handling facility” after “installation” insert “or its connected infrastructure;”.

(8) After the definition of “oil pollution incident” insert—

““oil spill response effectiveness” has the meaning given in Article 2(32) of the 2013 Directive;”.

(9) For the definition of “operator” substitute—

““operator”—

(10) After the definition of “operator” insert—

““production installation” means an offshore installation used for the offshore extraction of oil and gas from the underground strata of the area covered by a licence, including offshore processing of oil and gas and its conveyance through connected infrastructure;

“responsible person” means in relation to—

and “matters for which a responsible person is responsible” shall be construed accordingly;

“safety zone” means a safety zone within the meaning of Part 3 of the Petroleum Act 1987(4);”.

(11) After the definition of “United Kingdom Ship” insert—

““well operation” has the meaning given in the Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc.) Regulations 2015(5); and

“well operator” has the meaning given in the Offshore Petroleum Licensing (Offshore Safety Directive) Regulations 2015.”.