Part 4

Marine licensing
Chapter 5

Supplementary

Stop notices and emergency safety notices

Notice to stop activity causing serious harm etc
102
1
If it appears to an enforcement authority that subsections (3) and (4) are satisfied in relation to a person carrying on an activity in its area, it may issue a stop notice to that person.
2
A stop notice is a notice prohibiting a person from carrying on an activity specified in the notice.
3
This subsection is satisfied if a person is carrying on, or is likely to carry on, a licensable marine activity (whether or not in accordance with a marine licence).
4
This subsection is satisfied if the carrying on of the activity to be specified in the notice—
a
is causing, or is likely to cause, any of the effects in subsection (5), or
b
is creating, or is likely to create, an imminent risk of any of those effects.
5
The effects are—
a
serious harm to the environment;
b
serious harm to human health;
c
serious interference with legitimate uses of the sea.
6
A stop notice (in addition to specifying the activity to which it relates)—
a
must state the enforcement authority's grounds for believing that subsections (3) and (4) are satisfied;
b
must state the date and time from which the prohibition is to take effect (which may be a time on the date of the notice but must allow a period for compliance which is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case);
c
may require the person to take such steps as the authority considers appropriate to ensure that the cessation of the activity takes place safely.
7
Except in a case falling within subsection (9), a stop notice—
a
ceases to have effect at the end of the period of 7 days (or such shorter period as may be specified in the notice) beginning with the date on which the prohibition takes effect, but
b
may be renewed for a period specified in a further notice.
8
A stop notice may be renewed more than once under subsection (7)(b), but not so that it has effect for an aggregate period exceeding 35 days.
9
If a stop notice relating to a licensable marine activity is issued to a person who does not hold a marine licence authorising that activity, the stop notice may remain in force until such time (if any) as such a licence is granted to that person.
S. 102 in force at 6.4.2011 by S.I. 2011/556, art. 3(2)(a)
Pt. 4 excluded (E.W.S.) (11.3.2015) by The Dogger Bank Creyke Beck Offshore Wind Farm Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/318), arts. 1, 8(6) (with arts. 40, 41, Pt. 2 para. 4(2), Pt. 2 para. 4(3), Pt. 2 para. 19, Pt. 4 para. 3, Pt. 4 para. 4, Pt. 4 para. 16, Sch. 12 paras. 4, 9(2), 10)
Pt. 4 excluded (E.W.S.) (26.8.2015) by The Dogger Bank Teesside A and B Offshore Wind Farm Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1592), arts. 1, 8(7) (with arts. 40, 41)
Pt. 4 modified (E.W.S.) (7.9.2016) by The Hornsea Two Offshore Wind Farm Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/844), arts. 1(2), 36 (with arts. 37, 38)
Pt. 4 modified (E.W.S.) (15.9.2016) by The River Humber Gas Pipeline Replacement Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/853), arts. 1, 39 (with art. 43)
Pt. 4 modified (E.W.S.) (22.1.2021) by The Hornsea Three Offshore Wind Farm Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/1656), arts. 1, 31 (with arts. 40, 41, Sch. 9 Pt. 5 para. 18)
Pt. 4 applied (E.W.S) (1.1.2022) by The Norfolk Boreas Offshore Wind Farm Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1414), arts. 1, 32 (with arts. 41, 42, Sch. 17 para. 66)
Pt. 4 applied (E.W.S.) (5.3.2022) by The Norfolk Vanguard Offshore Wind Farm Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/138), arts. 1, 32 (with arts. 41, 42, Sch. 16)
Pt. 4 modified (E.W.S.) (29.12.2022) by The Keadby 3 (Carbon Capture Equipped Gas Fired Generating Station) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/1396), arts. 1, 39 (with art. 32, Sch. 10 paras. 26(2), 68)
Pt. 4 modified (E.W.S.) (28.4.2025) by The Rampion 2 Offshore Wind Farm Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/468), arts. 1, 39 (with arts. 47, 48, Sch. 10)
Pt. 4 modified (E.W.S.) (28.7.2025) by The Mona Offshore Wind Farm Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/870), arts. 1, 5 (with arts. 37, 38, Sch. 10)
Pt. 4 modified (22.9.2025) by The Morgan Offshore Wind Project Generation Assets Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/1012), arts. 1, 5 (with arts. 9, 10)
Pt. 4 modified (27.11.2025) by The Cory Decarbonisation Project Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/1227), arts. 1, 42(1) (with Sch. 12)
Pt. 4 modified (23.12.2025) by The Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Generation Assets Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/1366), arts. 1, 5 (with arts. 9, 10)