Law of the Sea: U.N. Resources

Provides comprehensive information on (i) the deposits with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, pursuant to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, of charts or the lists of geographical coordinates of points, specifying the geodetic datum, in relation to straight baselines and archipelagic baselines as well as the outer limits of the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf; (ii) the discharge of obligations of due publicity to all laws and regulations adopted by the coastal State relating to innocent passage through the territorial sea and all laws and regulations adopted by States bordering straits relating to transit passage through straits used for international navigation, as well as concerning due publicity given by coastal States, in accordance with the Convention, to the temporary suspension of innocent passage of foreign ships in specified areas of the territorial sea; and (iii) the status of State practice. Regarding the latter, the site contains the national legislation of coastal States and treaties dealing with the delimitation of maritime boundaries, as made available throughout the years to the United Nations. In addition, the site contains other reference material, such as tables indicating the status of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, summary of national claims to maritime jurisdiction, etc.

Contains notifications on the suspension of innocent passage in specified areas of the territorial seas of States Parties that have been received by the Secretary-General.

The purpose of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (the Commission or CLCS) is to facilitate the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (the Convention) in respect of the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles (M) from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. Under the Convention, the coastal State shall establish the outer limits of its continental shelf where it extends beyond 200 M on the basis of the recommendation of the Commission. The Commission shall make recommendations to coastal States on matters related to the establishment of those limits; its recommendations and actions shall not prejudice matters relating to the delimitation of boundaries between States with opposite or adjacent coasts.

The International Seabed Authority web site 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. Press releases are available for the latest session and links are provided to some of the most important law of the sea documents. The web site is updated on a regular basis and it is the intention of the Authority eventually to provide access to non-confidential information relating to deep seabed exploration through these web pages.

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea is an independent judicial body established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to adjudicate disputes arising out of the interpretation and application of the Convention. The Tribunal is composed of 21 independent members, elected from among persons enjoying the highest reputation for fairness and integrity and of recognized competence in the field of the law of the sea.

The purpose of the Fund is to provide financial assistance to States parties to the Convention for expenses incurred in connection with cases submitted, or to be submitted, to the Tribunal, including its Seabed Disputes Chamber and any other Chamber.

The United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO is the United Nations body for ocean science, ocean observatories, ocean data and information exchange, and ocean services such as Tsunami warning systems. Its mission is to promote international cooperation and to coordinate programmes in research, services and capacity building to learn more about the nature and resources of the oceans and coastal areas, and to apply this knowledge to improved management, sustainable development and protection of the marine environment and the decision making processes of States.