The implementation of Directive 2013/30/EU on the safety of offshore oil and gas operations

This consultation seeks views on the UK’s approach to implementing the offshore safety Directive, and includes proposals on amendments to existing legislation, new requirements, new administrative procedures, and the establishment of an offshore competent authority (CA).

As the Directive contains requirements relating to licensing, safety and environmental protection and emergency response, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are jointly leading the transposition. The Department for Transport (DfT) are also responsible for some areas covered by the Directive and are supporting the transposition.

Although the Directive is broadly based on the current UK offshore regulatory regime, some changes are necessary to UK legislation. Three sets of transposing regulations are proposed:

• The Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc.) Regulations 2015
• The Offshore Petroleum Activities (Offshore Safety Directive) (Environmental Functions) Regulations 2015, and
• The Offshore Petroleum Licensing (Offshore Safety Directive) Regulations 2015

There are also some amendments to:

• Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995 (PFEER)
• Offshore installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995 (MAR), and
• Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation Convention) Regulations 1998

All comments on this consultation are requested by 21 September 2014.

Note - The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the devolved administrations are responsible for transposing Article 38 of the Directive. This extends the offshore scope of the Environmental Liability Directive (ELD) to cover water damage in marine waters that fall within the scope of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, as the extension of the scope of the ELD will impact on operations beyond those in the oil and gas industries. Defra and the devolved administrations will be consulting on this separately.