S.L. 535.2 Art. 5Submarine cables and pipelines.

(1) No person shall conduct a survey for the laying of a submarine cable or pipeline or lay or maintain any submarine cable or pipeline on the continental shelf without a licence for such purpose, granted by the Prime Minister, evidencing the consent of the Government for the said surveying and the delineation of the pipelines in the exercise of its right to take reasonable measures for the exploration of the continental shelf, the exploitation of natural resources and the prevention, reduction and control of pollution from such cables or pipelines.

(3) There shall be payable to the Government an administrative charge as established in the Schedule for the surveying or laying of submarine cables and for the granting of a licence in accordance with sub-regulations (1) and (2): Provided that in case of submarine pipelines any charges or fees shall be agreed between the Government and the applicant on a case by case basis:

Provided further that any charges or fees that have been paid to Government prior to the entry in force of these regulations shall not be reimbursable from Government.

(4) The owner or operator of any submarine cable or pipeline which has fallen into disuse or is beyond repair shall forthwith inform the Government thereof and shall, if so ordered by the Government, remove such cable or pipeline within such period of time as the Government may order and in accordance with any conditions which the Government may so establish.

(5) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this regulation shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine (multa) not exceeding two million euro (€2,000,000) or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.