S.L. 625.1 Art. 4Submarine cables and pipelines.    S.L. 535.02.

(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 in an Area without a licence for such purpose, granted by the Minister, giving the consent of the Minister for the said surveying and specifying the delineation of the course for the laying of such cables and pipelines. An application for a licence shall be made in writing and addressed to the Minister and shall include the following information:

(a) a signed application letter addressed to the Minister requesting a licence for the purposes specified in this regulation;

(b) background information on the project;

(c) background information on the owner or operator;

(d) the precise geographical areas in which the project is to be conducted and the proposed dates of the planned operations;

(e) description of any data planned to be acquired;

(f) technical specifications of the vessel and the technical equipment;

(g) qualifications of the key personnel; and

(h) any other information as may be requested by the Minister.

(2) Without prejudice to sub-regulation (1), the Minister may impose on such licence any condition as he may consider necessary for the laying or maintenance of such cables and pipelines, in the exercise of his right to take reasonable measures for exploration in the exclusive economic zone, the exploitation, conservation and management of natural resources, protection and preservation of the marine environment and the prevention, reduction and control of pollution from such cables or pipelines.

(3) There shall be payable to the Minister 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, where an administrative charge for a licence is due under this regulation and under regulation 5 of the

Continental Shelf Regulations, only the administrative charge of the latter shall apply.

(4) In case of submarine pipelines any administrative charges or other fees shall be agreed to between the Minister and the applicant on a case-by-case basis.

(5) Any charges or fees that have been paid prior to the entry in force of these regulations shall not be reimbursable.

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

(7) 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 (2) years or to both such fine and imprisonment.