Soures of Maritime Law
UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides a universal legal framework for management of marine resources and conservation.
It has been described as the most important international achievement since the United Nations Charter in 1945!
Although there are many institutions responsible for governing areas on specific aspects of the ocean under their jurisdiction, the Convention itself remains the central instrument, and
this United Nations website plays an important role as a depository of the Convention, but also a wide range of instruments and links on all aspects related to oceans and the law of the sea.
International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea is an independent judicial body established by the 1982 UN
Convention to adjudicate disputes arising out of its interpretation and application.
The Tribunal is composed of 21 independent members of recognised competence in the field of the law of the sea.
The Tribunal is divided into the following Chambers: the Chamber of Summary Procedure; the Chamber for Fisheries Disputes;
and the Chamber for Marine Environment Disputes.
The website has full access to all the founding and procedural documents affecting the tribunal as well as a comprehensive coverage of proceedings and judgements.
International Seabed Authority
Based in Kingston, Jamaica, the International Seabed Authority was established under the 1982 UN
Convention its forerunner, the complementary 1994 Agreement.
The Authority is the assists States Parties to the Covention with controlling and organising their activities on the ocean floor and sea bed (outwith nations' territorial waters).
The ISA website contains detailed information on the organs of the Authority, including the Assembly, Council, Legal and Technical Commission, Finance Committee and the Secretariat.
The site also includes a full list of documents issued by the Authority at each of its sessions, and the full text of selected documents.
Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf
The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf was founded to facilitate the implementation of the 1982 UN
Convention with regard to the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the
baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured(?).
The CLCS makes recommendations to coastal
States on matters related to the establishment of those limits.
The Bonn Agreement
The Bonn Agreement is an international anti-pollution agreement by North Sea coastal states (including the UK), together
with the EC to offer mutual assistance and co-operation in combating pollution; and execute surveillance as an aid to
detecting and combating pollution and to prevent violations of anti-pollution regulations.
Advisory Board on the Law of the Sea
The Advisory Board on the Law of the Sea is an initiative of the International Hydrographic Organisation, the International
Association of Geodesy, and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
It deals with the hydrographic, geodetic and marine geo-scientific aspects of the law of the sea and
provides advice and guidance and offers expert interpretation of the hydrographic, geodetic and other technical aspects
of the law of the sea to its parent organistions, their member states or to other organisations on request.
American Bar Association Law of the Sea Committee
The ABA Law of the Sea Committee is responsible for the analysis,
review, and monitoring of the implementation of the 1982 UN Convention which, in
accordance with its approach to these things, the United States has signed but not ratified.
The Committee also has jurisdiction over other ocean issues and institutions, including the International Tribunal for the
Law of the Sea, the International Seabed Authority,
and developments relating to navigation, resources, pollution, and fisheries.
Center for Seafarers' Rights
A ministry of the Seamen's Church Initiative, the Center for Seafarers' Rights counsels and assists seafarers with legal
and work-related problems, trains port chaplains and seafarers' agencies how to respond to legal problems encountered in
the course of ministering to seafarers, and shares its observations with government policy makers and others in the
maritime industry who are in a position to improve the well-being of merchant seafarers.
International Maritime Organisation
The International Maritime Organisation is a UN agency, responsible for measures
to improve the safety of international shipping and to prevent marine pollution from ships.
It is also involved in legal matters, including liability and compensation issues and the facilitation of international
maritime traffic. The main technical work is carried out by the Maritime Safety, Marine Environment Protection, Legal,
Technical Co-operation and Facilitation Committees and a number of sub-committees.
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO provides Member States of the United Nations with a
mechanism for global co-operation in the study of the ocean.
The IOC assists governments to address their individual and collective ocean and coastal problems through the
sharing of knowledge, information and technology and through the co-ordination of national programmes.
Inter-Agency Committee on Marine Science and Technology
The website for the IACMST
claims to be your easy access to marine information in the UK and worldwide.
IACMST itself maintains an overview of marine activities across the UK Government.
It encourages links between Government and the national marine community, the wider application of marine science
and technology, optimum use of major UK marine facilities, training and education and international links.
Institute of Maritime Law, University of Southampton
The Institute of Maritime Law is the leading UK centre for teaching, research and
consultancy in maritime law disciplines.
It boasts 21 years of service to the legal profession and the maritime markets.
This article was written by Iain Nisbet of Govan Law Centre.
It is used with permission.
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