The University of the Faroe Islands and the Centre for International Law of the National University of Singapore will be co-organizing the 2023 Summer Academy on the Continental Shelf on 7-13 May 2023, in Singapore. This course is designed for government officials, researchers, practitioners, and advanced graduate students with particular interest for scientific and legal aspects relating to the continental shelf. The course confers particular focus on the intricate legal and technical conditions governing the entitlement to and establishment of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, and on the delimitation of overlapping entitlements to such areas. Emphasis will therefore be given to Articles 76 and 83 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Annex II thereto. More information is available here.
Monthly Archives: January 2023
IFLOS Summer Academy 2023
The International Foundation for the Law of the Sea (IFLOS) shall host the 2023 Session of the IFLOS Summer Academy, 30 July – 25 August 2023, at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Hamburg, Germany). Applications are welcome until 15 April 2023. For more information, see here.
Filed under Courses
E-Course: Climate Change & Law of the Sea
The Singapore Cooperation Programme, under the auspices of the Japan-Singapore Partnership Programme for the 21st Century (JSPP21), shall host an online course, entitled, Climate Change & Law of the Sea, 6-10 March 2023. Nominations (mid- to senior-level government officials who work on issues related to the Law of the Sea) from eligible countries are welcome until 10 February 2023. For more information see here.
Filed under Courses
2023 Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy
The 2023 session of the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy has been scheduled for 2-21 July 2023. The deadline to submit an application is 1 May 2023. For more information, fees and application documents please see here. The Academy has a small number of extremely competitive scholarships available that are offered based on high academic merit and financial need.
Furthermore, see the Rhodes Academy Submarine Cables Writing Award sponsored by The International Cable Protection Committee the winner of which is awarded a full scholarship to the Rhodes Academy. Information on the 2023 Rhodes Academy Submarine Cables Writing Award is not yet available.
ICJ Core Group of Nations: Second Draft Resolution for ICJ AO Initiative
On 23 January 2023 the ICJ Core Group of Nations, led by the Republic of Vanuatu, released a second Draft Resolution entitled, Request for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States in respect of climate change, for further and broadening consultation. It integrates feedback as of 22 January 2023. A final consultation will take place on 2 February 2023 in New York, before the final resolution will be circulated in February 2023.
Filed under State Practice
Switzerland: First Ratification of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
On 20 January 2023 Switzerland deposited its instrument of acceptance with the WTO, thereby ratifying the previously reported Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. Once two thirds of the 164 WTO Members have ratified the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, is shall enter into force and be inserted into Annex 1A of the WTO Agreement. For more information see the WTO press release and overview of WTO Members who have submitted instruments of acceptance.
Filed under State Practice, Treaties
Cameroon: Law No 2022/017 on Unlawful Acts at Sea
On 27 December 2022, Cameroon adopted Law No. 2022/017 of 27 December 2022 relating to the suppression of piracy, terrorism and offences against the safety of maritime navigation and platforms. In addition to the aforementioned offences listed in its title, Law No. 2022/017 also addressed other ‘unlawful acts at sea’ (Section 1(2)).
Piracy in defined in Section 2(2) of Law No. 2022/017 in a manner similar to Article 101 of UNCLOS, albeit with some notable differences. Unlike Article 101 of UNCLOS, acts of detention or depredation –as distinct from acts of violence– are not included in Section 2(2) of Law No. 2022/017, nor are acts of piracy involving aircraft. Law No. 2022/017 does however include ‘fixed or floating platforms’ within the definition of ship for the purpose of such offences (Section 2(1)). Similar to Article 102 of UNCLOS, Section 3(2) Law No. 2022/017 addresses piratical acts by mutinous warships or other government ships, again excluding the UNCLOS references to aircraft.
Section 4 of Law No. 2022/017 defines slightly modified offenses similar to most of those found in Article 3 of the SUA Convention, as well as Articles 2-3 of the Explosives Convention. Novel offences are included. Section 5 of Law No. 2022/017 defines offences similar to most of those found in Article 2 of SUA Platforms. Section 6 of Law No. 2022/017 defines offences similar to most of those found in Article 3bis of SUA Convention 2005 (Articles 3ter and 3quater do not appear to be addressed in Law No. 2022/017) and most of those found in Article 2bis of SUA Platforms 2005 (Article 2ter is not addressed). Section 6(b) of Law No. 2022/017 defines an offence similar to, but narrower, than Article 1 of the Hostages Convention. Section 7 of Law No. 2022/017 defines the offence of the illegal transport of minors, while Section 8 defines the offence of intentional pollution through the discharge of noxious substances (similar but distinct from Article 3bis(1)(ii) of SUA Convention 2005). Section 9 of Law No. 2022/017 defines an unauthorised broadcasting offence similar to Article 109(2) of UNCLOS. Section 10 of Law No. 2022/017 addresses a financing offence related to all the aforementioned offences, reflecting some of Article 2 of the Financing Convention, whilst be broader in other respects. Section 17 addresses conspiracies, attempts and accomplices to the aforementioned offences in Law No. 2022/017.
For further information see the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon.
Filed under State Practice
Short Course: Law of the Sea
The British Institute of International and Comparative Law will host the next edition of their short course, entitled, Law of the Sea, 18 April 2023 – 6 June 2023, online. 3 scholarships are available at BIICL. For more information see here.
Filed under Courses
Call for Papers: Portuguese Yearbook of the Law of the Sea
The Portuguese Yearbook of the Law of the Sea has issued a call for papers for its inaugural edition (2023). Submission are welcome until 31 March 2023. For more information see here.
Filed under Calls
Conference: Resilience of UNCLOS – 40 Years
The University of the Faroe Islands and the Law Faculty of the University of Copenhagen shall host a conference, entitled, Resilience of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: 40 Years, 10 March 2023 at the University of Copenhagen (Copenhagen, Denmark). For more information see here.
Filed under Events
UNGA: 2022 Resolutions Adopted on Law of the Sea & Sustainable Fisheries
On 9 December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution 77/118: Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments, without a vote. On 20 December 2022 UNGA adopted Resolution 77/242: 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14, without a vote, which envisages the convening of a high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14, supported by Costa Rica and France Finally, on 30 December 2022, UNGA adopted Resolution 77/248: Oceans and the law of the sea, (draft resolution currently accessible) with a vote (159-1-3).
For further information see reporting of the debate, as well as coverage (2) of the plenary meetings of the General Assembly to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the adoption of UNCLOS (see: Resolution 77/5)
Filed under International Organizations, State Practice
COSIS: Six Members of the Commission
As of 1 January 2023, the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law (COSIS) is comprised of six States, who are Parties to the COSIS Agreement (Article 3(2)). In order of date of effect, the Parties are Antigua and Barbuda (Definitive signature, 31 October 2021); Tuvalu (Definitive signature, 31 October 2021); Palau (Accession, 1 November 2021); Niue (Accession, 13 September 2022); Vanuatu (Accession, 2 December 2022) and St Lucia (Accession, 7 December 2022).
For more information on the Commission’s activities see previous reporting (2), (3), (4).
Filed under International Organizations, State Practice
Vacancies: associate professor at Aalborg University
The Centre for Blue Governance (CBG) at Aalborg University (Denmark) seeks an associate professor with a social scientific background who does innovative research in interrelated blue governance topics or emerging blue economy activities and/or marine/coastal conservation. Those applicants with experience and/or interest in the governance and socioeconomic implications of blue carbon, deep-sea/seabed mining, aquaculture/mariculture, and/or multiuse conflicts and planning at sea are especially encouraged to apply. Closing date for applications is 5 February 2023, as per this announcement.
Filed under Vacancies
Canada: Addendum to Partial Submission to CLCS (Arctic Ocean)
As previously reported, on 23 May 2019 Canada had made a partial submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) regarding its continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean. On 19 December 2022 Canada submitted its Addendum to the Partial Submission of Canada to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf regarding its continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean, see executive summary (french), to the CLCS. As summarised in the executive summary:
This addendum to the 2019 partial submission delineates additional outer limits of continental shelf, including along the full length of the Central Arctic Plateau (Lomonosov Ridge, Alpha Ridge and Mendeleev Rise, with the intervening Podvodnikov Basin and Makarov Basin), beyond 200 M from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
Noting in particular article 77 [of UNCLOS], Canada reserves the right to submit information in respect of other areas or portions of its continental shelf.
This submission is made, consistent with article 76(10) and article 9 of Annex II of [UNCLOS] without prejudice to future delimitation between Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark, the Russian Federation and the United States of America.
Addendum to the Partial Submission of Canada to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf regarding its continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean, pp. 5 and 10.
For more information see here and UN Doc. CLCS.84.2019.LOS (Continental Shelf Notification) (20 December 2022).
Filed under International Organizations, State Practice
Vacancies: Endowed Chair at Monmouth University
The Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monmouth University (NJ, USA) seeks an outstanding senior scholar for the Endowed Rechnitz Family / Urban Coast Institute Chair in Marine and Environmental Law and Policy. The Chair will have an expertise in environment, coastal and marine policy. This position will offer courses geared towards the overall environment as well as environmental law and policy. The successful applicant will be hired at the Associate or Full Professor level in the Department of Political Science and Sociology with the possibility of a joint appointment in another appropriate department at the university, as well as associated with the Urban Coast Institute (UCI). More information is available here.
Filed under Vacancies
Vacancies: legal officer at ITLOS
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, an international court with its seat in Hamburg, Germany, has opened the following vacancy: Legal Officer (P-4). Application deadline is 15 February 2023. More information is available here.
Filed under Vacancies
De Maribus 