Australia bans unauthorised vessels within 500 metres of GB-5 well

The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority has prohibited all unauthorised vessels from entering or remaining within 500 metres of the GB-5 well, in a petroleum safety zone that takes effect on 5 November 2026. The prohibition is made under section 616 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 and carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment. It is published as notice REGOPS-841858483350791 in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette of 30 October 2026, under Government Notices reference C2026G00708.

The notice is titled “Establishment of a petroleum safety zone” and names GB Energy (Vic) Pty Limited as the titleholder of production licence VIC/L008865(V), covering the GB-3, GB-4 and GB-5 wells and associated subsea equipment. It is signed by Darryl Nottingham, Director – Exploration & Development Safety in the authority’s Regulatory Operations Division, acting under an instrument of delegation dated 16 April 2026, and is dated 28 October 2026.

A zone drawn from the wellhead

The safety zone extends to a distance of 500 metres, measured from each point of the outer edge of the GB-5 well. The instrument fixes the well’s position at latitude 38° 14’ 53.65" South and longitude 147° 25’ 01.27" East, coordinates expressed in the GDA94 datum.

The zone is valid from 5 November 2026 until it is revoked by notice published in the gazette, meaning it has no fixed expiry date and remains in force indefinitely unless the regulator publishes a revocation.

Who may enter the closed area

The prohibition applies to all vessels except three categories:

• Vessels under the control of the registered holders of VIC/L008865.
• Vessels operated by authorised persons exercising powers under Division 5 of Part 6.6 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006.
• Any other vessel holding the consent in writing of NOPSEMA.

Penalties scaled to the state of mind

Where an unauthorised vessel enters or remains in the zone in contravention of the notice, both the owner and the person in command or in charge of the vessel are each guilty of an offence against section 616 of the Act. On conviction, the term of imprisonment depends on how the breach is characterised:

• Not exceeding 15 years, where the breach is determined to be intentional.
• Not exceeding 12.5 years, where it is determined to be reckless.
• Not exceeding 10 years, where it is determined to be negligent.
• Not exceeding 5 years, where it is an offence of strict liability.

The instrument records that it is made under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the gazette entry notes the authority’s Australian Business Number as 22 385 178 289.

Why it matters

The notice is a standing navigational and legal hazard for commercial and recreational traffic in Bass Strait, because it binds every vessel in the area rather than only the licence holder’s own fleet, and the heaviest sanctions attach to deliberate entry. Mariners and operators planning transit near the GB-5 wellhead from 5 November 2026 must either keep 500 metres clear or obtain written consent from NOPSEMA before entering.

Source: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, Government Notices, No. C2026G00708, 30 October 2026, p. 1 (official reference: C2026G00708).