Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003
Notice of declaration of security regulated OFFSHORE FACILITY –
wandoo a, wandoo b & calm BUOY
I, BRIAN RANKIN, A/g Director, Western Australia Transport Security Operations, Office of Transport Security, under subsection 17B(1) of the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 (the Act):
REVOKE the declaration of Wandoo A, Wandoo B and Wandoo CALM (Catenary Anchored Leg Mooring) Buoy as a security regulated offshore facility as published in the Gazette (No. S164, 23 September 2005), listed in Column A (offshore oil and gas facility); and
DECLARE that Wandoo A, Wandoo B and Wandoo CALM Buoy which is located in an
offshore area and used in the extraction of petroleum from the seabed or its subsoil with equipment on, or forming part of the facility, the location and boundaries of which are shown on the attached map, to be a security regulated offshore facilities.
This Notice commences upon publication in the Gazette.
Date: 14 September 2015
Brian Rankin
Delegate of the Secretary of the
Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development
Note:
1) Gazette means the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette
2) This Notice remains in force until otherwise revoked in writing and upon subsequent publication in the Gazette.
Overview
The Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 was enacted to address security concerns associated with maritime transport and offshore facilities. This Act was introduced by the Parliament of Australia with the policy objective of ensuring the security of maritime transport and offshore facilities, particularly in relation to potential threats that could disrupt critical operations or endanger lives. The Act was created to fill a gap in the regulatory framework by providing specific measures to safeguard maritime and offshore infrastructure, ensuring that these facilities could operate securely amidst potential threats such as terrorism and sabotage. The Act empowers the relevant authorities to declare certain offshore facilities as security regulated, thereby subjecting them to stringent security requirements aimed at protecting both the facilities and the broader maritime environment.
Scope and Application
The Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 applies to offshore facilities and their security, particularly those involved in the extraction of petroleum from the seabed or its subsoil. This Act has a national reach across Australia, impacting the maritime transport industry and offshore facilities specifically designated as security regulated. The Act applies to the specified entities, in this instance, Wandoo A, Wandoo B, and Wandoo CALM Buoy, which are offshore oil and gas facilities. The Act provides for the revocation or declaration of such facilities as security regulated, as demonstrated in the notice by Brian Rankin, the Acting Director of Western Australia Transport Security Operations, under subsection 17B(1) of the Act. The Notice revokes the previous declaration of these buoys as security regulated offshore facilities and re-declares them under the same Act, specifying their location and boundaries. This Notice is effective upon its publication in the Gazette and remains in force until formally revoked and republished. The Act's application can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, as evidenced by the Notice's detailed specification of the buoys' locations and the boundaries of their offshore area.
Key Provisions
The Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 (the Act) outlines the requirements for the security of offshore facilities, particularly those involved in the extraction of petroleum from the seabed. Section 17B(1) allows the Director to revoke or declare the security status of such facilities. In this instance, the notice revokes the previous declaration for the Wandoo A, Wandoo B, and Wandoo CALM Buoy as security regulated offshore facilities, and simultaneously declares them as such. The facilities in question are situated in an offshore area and are used in the extraction of petroleum, as detailed in the attached map.
The obligations imposed by the Act on the entities operating these offshore facilities include adhering to security measures that are prescribed by regulations. These measures are designed to protect the facilities from potential threats, ensuring the safety of personnel and the integrity of the operations. The declaration under section 17B(1) means that the Wandoo A, Wandoo B, and Wandoo CALM Buoy must now comply with these security regulations. This includes implementing physical security measures, emergency response plans, and potentially other requirements set out in the regulations that accompany the Act.
Failure to comply with the security provisions of the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 can lead to significant consequences. If a person or entity fails to meet the security obligations, they may be subject to civil or criminal penalties. For civil penalties, the Act allows for fines that can be substantial, reflecting the seriousness of not adhering to the prescribed security measures. For criminal offences, the Act stipulates penalties which can include imprisonment, reflecting the potential national security implications of inadequate security at offshore facilities. The exact penalties are not specified in this notice but are outlined in the Act and its accompanying regulations.