Section 3 Discharge of certain oils from pipe-lines or as the result of exploration etc. in designated areas.C1

If any oil to which section 1 of this Act applies, or any mixture containing such oil, is discharged into any part of the sea—

then, subject to the following provisions of this Act, the owner of the pipe-line or, as the case may be, the person carrying on the operations shall be guilty of an offence unless the discharge was from a place in his occupation and he proves that it was due to the act of a person who was there without his permission (express or implied).

In this section “designated area” means an area for the time being designated by an Order made under section 1 of the M1Continental Shelf Act 1964.

A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable F1on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £50,000 or on conviction on indictment to a fineon summary conviction, or on conviction on indictment, to a fine.