Baselines under the International Law of the Sea

Abstract

Between 2008–2018 the International Law Association (ILA) Committee on Baselines under the International Law of the Sea produced two reports on the normal baseline (2012) and straight and archipelagic baselines (2018). The Sofia Report (2012) is organised around the interpretation of Article 5 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) concerning the normal baseline. Under the leadership of Committee Chair Judge Dolliver Nelson, the Committee was asked to identify the existing law on the normal baseline and to assess the need for further clarification or development of that law in light of substantial coastal change. The Report applies the rules of treaty interpretation, including an assessment of the ordinary meaning of the terms of the treaty and, because those leave the meaning ambiguous, the preparatory works of the normal baseline provision. The Report then turns to address the application of the existing law to changing coasts and concludes that the law on the normal baseline is inadequate to address problems of substantial territorial loss. The Sydney Report (2018) is organised around a common methodology in assessing Articles 7, 8, 10, 13, 14 and 47 of the LOSC concerning straight baselines, closing lines, and straight archipelagic baselines. Each analysis seeks to provide some background to the drafting of the Article, analysis of the text, assessment of state practice, relevant case law, and a summary of the commentary by publicists. The Report then moves to address certain cross-cutting or global issues that are relevant to a contemporary analysis of straight and archipelagic baselines, before reaching conclusions.

Classification of Maritime Disputes and Modern Legal Means of their Resolution

“…Австралийский профессор международного права Д. Ротвелл -один из наиболее авторитетных специалистов в современном морском праве. Под его редакцией издан Оксфордский справочник по морскому праву (The Oxford Handbook of The Law of the Sea) [57], сформулирована доктрина международного полярного права [53], охарактеризованы проблемные аспекты проведения исходных линий в международном морском праве [38]. Работы Д. Ротвелла сосредоточены на проблемах разрешения территориальных морских споров, которые для современной науки международного публичного права, по его мнению, представляют особый интерес.…”

Sea-level rise and submerged land territory: A study of the legal establishment of substitute artificial islands to sustain statehood and maritime zones of Small Island Developing States

“…211 A State is also free and independent to exercise its powers and to elect its government. 212 The paper further mentions the Law of Treaties from the ILC Yearbook from 1956 ( referred to as the 1956 draft articles on the law of treaties), 213 which defines the State as: '(i) … an entity consisting of a people inhabiting a defined territory, under an organized system of government, and having the capacity to enter into international relations binding the entity 203 Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973(London, 17 February 1978), ibid., vol. 1340Protocol of 1997 ' Ballast Water and Sediments (London, 13 February 2004), IMO document BWM/CONF/2004, annex.…”

“…De jure may be defined as 'having a right or existence as stated by law'. 212 Therefore, de jure autonomy refers to the legal recognition of autonomy or independence, a government may be factually autonomous and have the ability to act independently but lack the official recognition that comes along with de jure recognition. Another example of de facto autonomy is Taiwan, which is administered by a special local government.…”

“…210 'De facto' Cambridge Dictionary available at https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/de-facto (accessed 2 July 2023). 211 A Arieff 'De facto statehood -The Strange Case of Somaliland' (2008) 3 (2) Yale Journal of International Affairs 75 212. 'De jure' Cambridge Dictionary available at https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/de-jure (accessed 2 July 2023).213 J Shen 'Sovereignty, Statehood, Self-Determination, and the Issue of Taiwan' (2000) 15 (5) American University of International Law Review 1118214 Ibid 1118 215.…”

Sea-level rise and submerged land territory: A study of the legal establishment of substitute artificial islands to sustain statehood and maritime zones of small island developing states.

“…211 Ibid 28. 212 Ibid 28. 213 as such, either directly or through some other State; but this is without prejudice to the question of the methods by, or channel through which a treaty on behalf [of] any given State must be negotiated -depending on its status and international affiliations;…”