The Univeristy of Hasselt will host a guest lecture by Prof. dr. Alexander Vylegzhanin (Head of International Law Department, Moscow State Institute of International Relations), entitled Oil and gas development in the Arctic – International law and Russian policy. The event will be on 26 May 2016, at 4:00pm, in the Oude Gevangenis, Universiteit Hasselt. The event will be in English.
For more information see this flyer, and for registration (in dutch) see here.
Filed under Events
The 2009 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA), has reached the required threshold of formal deposits of adherence and will therefore enter into force on 5 June 2016. According to the FAO press release, the following states and regional economic integration organization are parties to the PSMA: Australia, Barbados, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, European Union – Member Organization, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Iceland, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Palau, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Tonga, United States of America, Uruguay, and Vanuatu.
For more information, see the FAO press release here.
Unconfirmed reports also suggest Gambia has ratified the PSMA within its internal National Assembly, however, according to the FAO website, it has not yet formally deposited an instrument of adherence.
Filed under Treaties
IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has confirmed that ship construction rules for oil tankers and bulk carriers submitted by 12 classification societies conform to the goals and functional requirements set by the Organization for new oil tankers and bulk carriers. This marks a significant new development in how international standards for ship construction are determined and implemented. For the first time, IMO has been given a role in auditing and verifying the structural rules developed by the classification societies for new-build oil tankers and bulk carriers. More information can be found here.
Filed under International Organizations
UCILS, of Utrecht University, will host a guest lecture by Dr Efthymios Papastavridis, entitled, EU and NATO efforts to combat smuggling of migrants in the Mediterranean and the international law of the sea. The lecture will take place 15.00-17.00, 19 May 2016, in the Toonpeterszaal, Achter Sint Pieter 200, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
For more information, see here.
Filed under Events
On 29 April 2016, the Arbitral Tribunal in the arbitration concerning the “Enrica Lexie” incident (Italy v. India) adopted its Order in respect of a request by Italy for the prescription of provisional measures. In the operative part of the Order, the Arbitral Tribunal unanimously prescribed the following provisional measures:
a) Italy and India shall cooperate, including in proceedings before the Supreme Court of India, to achieve a relaxation of the bail conditions of Sergeant Girone so as to give effect to the concept of considerations of humanity, so that Sergeant Girone, while remaining under the authority of the Supreme Court of India, may return to Italy during the present Annex VII arbitration.
b) The Arbitral Tribunal confirms Italy’s obligation to return Sergeant Girone to India in case the Arbitral Tribunal finds that India has jurisdiction over him in respect of the “Enrica Lexie” incident.
c) The Arbitral Tribunal decides that Italy and India each shall report to the Arbitral Tribunal on compliance with these provisional measures, and authorizes the President to seek information from the Parties if no such report is submitted within three months from the date of this Order and thereafter as he may consider appropriate.
The full text of the Order is available on the Case Repository of the PCA.
Filed under Jurisprudence
The Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law (Swansea University), in cooperation with the Center for Energy, Law, and Business of University of Texas Law School, will hold a symposium entitled, Lex Petrolea – Reality or Myth?, on the 21 June 2016 at Etc. Venues, London, United Kingdom.
For more information see here, this flyer and registration.
Filed under Events
Timor-Leste initiated compulsory conciliation with Australia on the 14th April 2016, under the provisions of UNCLOS, in order “to facilitate the conclusion of an agreement with Australia on permanent maritime boundaries”. On the 2nd May 2016 the government of Australia has informed Timor-Leste of its two appointments to the Conciliation Commission. They shall now work with the two Timor-Leste appointed conciliators in order to appoint a fifth member, before the Commission begins its work.
For more information see the official press releases here, and here.
Filed under State Practice
De Maribus 