The Centre for International Law (CIL) of the National University of Singapore (NUS), in collaboration with the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore, shall host an international workshop, entitled, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Shipping, 13-14 November 2018, at a downtown hotel TBC (Singapore).
For further information see here.
The World Maritime University (WMU) shall host its 3rd International Women’s Conference, entitled, Empowering Women in the Maritime Community, 4-5 April 2018 at WMU (Malmö, Sweden). Topics focused on Sustainable Development Goal 5 and gender equality in maritime and related ocean fields are of particular relevance, but submissions are also welcome with a focus on additional SDGs. Abstract submissions are due by 30 November 2018.
For more information see here.
Following public consultations, the Government of New Caledonia adopted on 14 August 2018 three decrees relating to the Coral Sea Nature Park.
The first introduces reserves in the Coral Sea Nature Park at Chesterfield, Bellona, Entrecasteaux, Pétrie and Astrolabe. 7,000km2 is designated réserve intégrale, whereby no access or human activity is allowed, except in the context of approved scientific research. 21,000km2 is designated réserves naturelles, whereby access is subject to governmental authorization and fishing, hunting, camping, picnics or water sports are prohibited. The second decree regulates professional tourism in the area, with a further decree reportedly being prepared for private pleasure craft, yachts, charter vessels and those who transit the maritime area. Finally, the third decree concerns adoption of a Park Management Plan.
For further information see the press releases here and here. Note, currently listed under France an independence referendum is scheduled for 4 November 2018.
Filed under State Practice
The Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance shall host a conference, entitled, A Vision for Ocean Law and Governance for 2020-2030 and Beyond, 5 December 2018, at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, UK).
For more information (programme forthcoming, September 2018) and registration see here.
Filed under Events
Hosted by the Government of the Philippines, the EAS Congress 2018, themed, 25 Years of Partnerships for Healthy Oceans, People and Economies: Moving as One with the Global Ocean Agenda, will occur 27-30 November 2018 at the Iloilo Convention Center (Iloilo City, The Philippines). Online registration is open until 30 October 2018 (fees apply).
Filed under Events
The public hearings in the M/V “Norstar” Case (Panama v. Italy) are scheduled to occur 10-15 September 2018, at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Hamburg, Germany). Members of the general public are requested to register in advance with the Press Office (press@itlos.org). A live broadcast will also be available (10 a.m. (CET), 10 September 2018).
For more information and the schedule see the ITLOS press release.
Filed under International Organizations, Jurisprudence
Following the previously reported entry into force, the first fishing vessel detention under the port state inspection provisions of the ILO Convention (No. 188) concerning work in the fishing sector occurred in June 2018, Cape Town, South Africa. Steps for rectification and a detention fee were required before the vessel was permitted to leave.
For more information, see the ILO press release.
Filed under State Practice
The Centre for International and Transnational Tendencies in Law at Aarhus University, Denmark, is hosting a workshop on the transnational development and use of legal norms and other instruments of legal relevance that have an impact on the protection of threatened ecosystems. The workshop will focus on transnational and multi-level aspects in environmental governance and regulation of ecosystems’ protection and international conservation of terrestrial and marine areas. One of the topics of the call is “the effectiveness of the different approaches and instruments (including the use of liability concepts) used in the marine protection”. The deadline for abstract submission is 31 August 2018. The workshop is set to happen on 25-26 October 2018. The call for papers may be found here.
Filed under Calls
The member states of the informal group “Caspian-five”, composed of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan, have signed (12 August 2018) the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. This international treaty replaces previous Soviet-Iranian instruments, namely the Treaty of Friendship between Persia and the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic of February 26, 1921 and the Treaty on trade and navigation of 25 March 1940. With this new treaty, the parties agree that the Caspian Sea is not a lake. Among other issues addressed by the treaty, the Caspian Sea bordering states will now be able to lay pipelines on the seabed without obtaining the approval of all the other coastal states, but rather only the approval from those coastal states whose sector the pipeline should pass through (Article 14). The treaty also features the principle of absence of armed forces not belonging to the parties in the Caspian Sea (Article 3). Six other international legal instruments were also signed by the parties, namely on the fight against terrorism, the fight against organised crime, economic cooperation, transportation, accident prevention, and interaction of border authorities. The text of the agreement may be found here (in Farsi). A statement from the United Nations Secretary-General may be found here.
Caspian Sea region oil and natural gas infrastructure. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Filed under Treaties
The port of Rotterdam shall host its annual World Port Days festival, 7-9 September 2018 (Rotterdam, The Netherlands). The inner city festival is free to enter and no ticket required. Excursions may require a ticket, some of which carry a fee. Excursion tickets will be on sale 20 August 2018, bar a few available now.
For more information, see the program.
Filed under Events
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has published (11 July 2018) its judgment on Case C-15/17 concerning an oil discharge in the EEZ of Finland by the bulk carrier Bosphorus Queen that took place in 2011. In its decision, the CJEU interpreted the meaning of the expressions “clear objective evidence” and “coastline or related interests” as used in Article 220(6) of the UNCLOS and Article 7(2) of the EC Directive 2005/35 (as amended by EC Directive 2009/123). The CJEU also held that the assessment of a violation, as defined by said articles, takes into consideration:
– the cumulative nature of the damage on several or all of those resources and related interests and the difference in sensitivity of the coastal State with regard to damage to its various resources and related interests;
– the foreseeable harmful consequences of discharge on those resources and related interests, not only on the basis of the available scientific data, but also with regard to the nature of the harmful substance(s) contained in the discharge concerned and the volume, direction, speed and the period of time over which the oil spill spreads
The judgment, as well as the opinion of the Advocate General (delivered on 28 February 2018), may be found here.
Filed under International Organizations, Jurisprudence
De Maribus 