Routledge Research on the Law of the Sea – serie

The need for freedoms of navigation in regional waters is frequently mentioned in statements from regional forums, but a common understanding of what constitutes a particular freedom of navigation or the relevant law is lacking. This book discusses how law, politics and strategy intersect to provide different perspectives of freedoms on navigation in the Asia-Pacific region. These freedoms are very important in this distinctively maritime region, but problems arise over interpreting the navigational regimes under the law of the sea, especially with regard to the rights of foreign warships to transit another country’s territorial sea without prior notification or authorisation of the coastal state, and with determining the availability of high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight in an exclusive economic zone. The book explores these issues, referring in particular to the position of the main protagonists on these issues in Asian waters – the United States and China – with their strongly opposing views. The book concludes with a discussion of the prospects for either resolving these different perspectives or for developing confidence-building measures that would reduce the risks of maritime incidents.Providing a comprehensive yet concise overview of the various different factors affecting freedom of navigation, this book will be a valuable resource for those working or studying in the fields of international relations, maritime security and the law of the sea.

This book delves into the major developments triggered by the hydrocarbon discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean over the last twenty years, focusing on maritime boundary delimitation.Examining the impact that the hydrocarbon discoveries have had on the application of the law of the sea rules by the East Med states, the book looks at the new trends concerning the implementation of the law of the sea in the region. The book analyses regional state practice in terms of maritime delimitation, namely the conclusion of bilateral agreements based on the law of the sea rules, both conventional and customary, reflecting the East Med states’ willingness to cooperate in order to reap the benefits of the energy windfall. Alongside this analysis, an outline of the hydrocarbon discoveries and the pertinent maritime activities is given, as well as further coverage of the overlapping maritime claims and disputes between Greece, Cyprus and Turkey on one side, and Lebanon and Israel on the other. Moreover, the book examines the validity of maritime claims made by or through non-state entities in the region, namely the State of Palestine, the UK Sovereign Base Areas and the so-called ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ and their potential impact on the delimitation agreements already in place. The book argues that the East Med paradigm concerning the successful application of the pertinent norms in maritime delimitation proves that international law is resilient and capable of providing solutions in other turbulent regions around the globe.This book will be of interest and importance to academics and students of international law, professionals in the oil and shipping industries, legal professionals and government agencies.

This book delves into the major developments triggered by the hydrocarbon discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean over the last twenty years, focusing on maritime boundary delimitation.Examining the impact that the hydrocarbon discoveries have had on the application of the law of the sea rules by the East Med states, the book looks at the new trends concerning the implementation of the law of the sea in the region. The book analyses regional state practice in terms of maritime delimitation, namely the conclusion of bilateral agreements based on the law of the sea rules, both conventional and customary, reflecting the East Med states’ willingness to cooperate in order to reap the benefits of the energy windfall. Alongside this analysis, an outline of the hydrocarbon discoveries and the pertinent maritime activities is given, as well as further coverage of the overlapping maritime claims and disputes between Greece, Cyprus and Turkey on one side, and Lebanon and Israel on the other. Moreover, the book examines the validity of maritime claims made by or through non-state entities in the region, namely the State of Palestine, the UK Sovereign Base Areas and the so-called ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ and their potential impact on the delimitation agreements already in place. The book argues that the East Med paradigm concerning the successful application of the pertinent norms in maritime delimitation proves that international law is resilient and capable of providing solutions in other turbulent regions around the globe.This book will be of interest and importance to academics and students of international law, professionals in the oil and shipping industries, legal professionals and government agencies.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea follows a comprehensive approach and can be interpreted dynamically to include the regulation of all potential human uses of the ocean, but the law of the sea cannot be viewed in isolation from other fields of international law. International law does not resemble a hierarchically structured legal system; its different parts interact when different rules address the same activity or situation.The academic discussion concerning the specialization and proliferation of international legal rules and dispute settlement bodies has theoretical as well as practical relevance for the law of the sea and its interaction with other parts of international law. The intensified use of the oceans for different purposes and the ongoing proliferation of international rules addressing different activities from different perspectives and with distinct foci require a more thorough evaluation of how the law of the sea relates to other fields of international law, how the normative context can be approached theoretically and if interdisciplinary interfaces can be adequately addressed. This book discusses the normative context of the law of the sea and the interactions of the law of the sea with other legal regimes.By connecting high-quality research with new ideas and perspectives, this book offers expertise from different fields and perspectives in which the interaction between the law of the sea and other fields of international law becomes particularly relevant.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea follows a comprehensive approach and can be interpreted dynamically to include the regulation of all potential human uses of the ocean, but the law of the sea cannot be viewed in isolation from other fields of international law. International law does not resemble a hierarchically structured legal system; its different parts interact when different rules address the same activity or situation.The academic discussion concerning the specialization and proliferation of international legal rules and dispute settlement bodies has theoretical as well as practical relevance for the law of the sea and its interaction with other parts of international law. The intensified use of the oceans for different purposes and the ongoing proliferation of international rules addressing different activities from different perspectives and with distinct foci require a more thorough evaluation of how the law of the sea relates to other fields of international law, how the normative context can be approached theoretically and if interdisciplinary interfaces can be adequately addressed. This book discusses the normative context of the law of the sea and the interactions of the law of the sea with other legal regimes.By connecting high-quality research with new ideas and perspectives, this book offers expertise from different fields and perspectives in which the interaction between the law of the sea and other fields of international law becomes particularly relevant.

The origins of the maritime dispute between Chile and Peru go back to 1952, when these countries, along with Ecuador, asserted sovereignty over 200 nautical miles from their coasts. This maritime claim is widely regarded as one of the most important contributions by a group of developing countries to the law of the sea. Peru then asked the Court of International Justice to delimit its lateral boundary with Chile in accordance with principles of international law. Chile asked the Court to dismiss the request. The question before the ICJ Justice was whether the treaty concluded by the parties when they made their claim had also delimited their lateral boundary. This book provides a critical analysis of the approach to treaty interpretation by the International Court of Justice in Maritime Disputes. Focusing on the case of Chile and Peru, the book explores two main issues: the interpretation of the Santiago Declaration and its connected treaties; and the tacit agreement that established a lateral maritime boundary with a seaward extension of 80 nautical miles. Part I argues that the Court’s finding that the Santiago Declaration did not delimit the lateral boundary is mistaken because it ignores its context, as well as its object and purpose. Part II argues that the finding that the parties had entered into a tacit agreement is an unjustified legal inference derived from a hasty interpretation of the Special Agreement of 1954. It questions that the reliability of the evidence used to determine the seaward extent of the lateral boundary and argues that the Court failed to demonstrate the bearing of contemporaneous developments in the law of the sea on the content of the tacit agreement.

There has been a recent increase in clashes between warships asserting rights to navigate and states asserting sovereignty over coastal waters. This book argues for a set of rules which respect the rights of coastal states to protect their sovereignty and of warships to navigate lawfully, whilst also outlining the limits of each.The book addresses the issue of the clash between warships and states by considering the general principles applying to use of force in the law of the sea and the law of national self-defence. It focuses on the right of coastal states to use force to prevent passage of warships which threaten their sovereignty, with particular reference to the specific maritime zones, as well as by warships to ensure passage or to defend themselves. The book also assesses the extent to which the law of armed conflict may be applicable to these issues. The conclusion draws together a set of rules which take account of both contemporary and historical events and seeks to balance the competing interests at stake.Providing a concise overview of the enduring issue of freedom of navigation, this book will appeal to anyone studying international law, the law of the sea, security studies and international relations. It will also be of interest to naval, coast guard and military officers as well as government legal advisors.

There has been a rapid growth of interest in due diligence, especially in the fields of environmental law and the law of the sea. Yet, confusion seems to surround this notion. Is due diligence a principle, a rule, a standard or something else? This book firstly explores thoroughly the concept of due diligence, its purpose and its mechanisms in order to propose a comprehensive theory of due diligence in harmony with the general law of State responsibility. In the meantime, this book also explores the usefulness of due diligence to address modern challenges afflicting the high seas. Indeed, while the application of due diligence in transboundary contexts is well illustrated by jurisprudence, its applicability in areas beyond national jurisdiction remains unclear. Yet, a proper usage of this concept may be crucial for the protection of the high seas, as it allows for the intervention of international standards in this fragile area. Hopefully, the concept of due diligence can help compensate the insufficiencies of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea concerning the high seas. Examining in detail the theory of due diligence, this book will interest international lawyers concerned with this notion. It also offers a new perspective on the UNCLOS through the prism of due diligence and will interest lawyers dealing with the protection of the marine environment and fisheries.

There has been a rapid growth of interest in due diligence, especially in the fields of environmental law and the law of the sea. Yet, confusion seems to surround this notion. Is due diligence a principle, a rule, a standard or something else? This book firstly explores thoroughly the concept of due diligence, its purpose and its mechanisms in order to propose a comprehensive theory of due diligence in harmony with the general law of State responsibility. In the meantime, this book also explores the usefulness of due diligence to address modern challenges afflicting the high seas. Indeed, while the application of due diligence in transboundary contexts is well illustrated by jurisprudence, its applicability in areas beyond national jurisdiction remains unclear. Yet, a proper usage of this concept may be crucial for the protection of the high seas, as it allows for the intervention of international standards in this fragile area. Hopefully, the concept of due diligence can help compensate the insufficiencies of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea concerning the high seas. Examining in detail the theory of due diligence, this book will interest international lawyers concerned with this notion. It also offers a new perspective on the UNCLOS through the prism of due diligence and will interest lawyers dealing with the protection of the marine environment and fisheries.

The need for freedoms of navigation in regional waters is frequently mentioned in statements from regional forums, but a common understanding of what constitutes a particular freedom of navigation or the relevant law is lacking. This book discusses how law, politics and strategy intersect to provide different perspectives of freedoms on navigation in the Asia-Pacific region. These freedoms are very important in this distinctively maritime region, but problems arise over interpreting the navigational regimes under the law of the sea, especially with regard to the rights of foreign warships to transit another country’s territorial sea without prior notification or authorisation of the coastal state, and with determining the availability of high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight in an exclusive economic zone. The book explores these issues, referring in particular to the position of the main protagonists on these issues in Asian waters – the United States and China – with their strongly opposing views. The book concludes with a discussion of the prospects for either resolving these different perspectives or for developing confidence-building measures that would reduce the risks of maritime incidents.Providing a comprehensive yet concise overview of the various different factors affecting freedom of navigation, this book will be a valuable resource for those working or studying in the fields of international relations, maritime security and the law of the sea.

The law of maritime delimitation has been shaped by the interpretation of certain provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which has led to State practice being neglected in current scholarship. This book presents an overview of the under-examined question of the impact of State practice in Latin America and the Caribbean on the development of the law of maritime delimitation.Examining the status of maritime boundaries in Latin America and the Caribbean, this book also ponders the impact of State practice and case law on the law of maritime delimitation. It outlines the historical framework of the establishment of maritime jurisdiction during colonial times and assesses the evolution of maritime delimitation and the contribution of Latin America and the Caribbean to the modern law of the sea. It discusses the law of maritime delimitation and, through jurisprudence, the development of the three-stage methodology to describe and explain maritime delimitation agreements in Latin America and the Caribbean according to the method or methods of delimitation employed. It reviews maritime boundaries in Latin America and the Caribbean that were submitted to third-party adjudication as well as provisional arrangements, considering the role of State practice in Latin America and the Caribbean on the development of the law of maritime delimitation.With a renewed focus on maritime delimitation, and increasing litigation focused on Latin America and the Caribbean, the book will be of interest to students, academics and practitioners in the fields of international law, law of the sea, and State practice.

The law of maritime delimitation has been shaped by the interpretation of certain provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which has led to State practice being neglected in current scholarship. This book presents an overview of the under-examined question of the impact of State practice in Latin America and the Caribbean on the development of the law of maritime delimitation.Examining the status of maritime boundaries in Latin America and the Caribbean, this book also ponders the impact of State practice and case law on the law of maritime delimitation. It outlines the historical framework of the establishment of maritime jurisdiction during colonial times and assesses the evolution of maritime delimitation and the contribution of Latin America and the Caribbean to the modern law of the sea. It discusses the law of maritime delimitation and, through jurisprudence, the development of the three-stage methodology to describe and explain maritime delimitation agreements in Latin America and the Caribbean according to the method or methods of delimitation employed. It reviews maritime boundaries in Latin America and the Caribbean that were submitted to third-party adjudication as well as provisional arrangements, considering the role of State practice in Latin America and the Caribbean on the development of the law of maritime delimitation.With a renewed focus on maritime delimitation, and increasing litigation focused on Latin America and the Caribbean, the book will be of interest to students, academics and practitioners in the fields of international law, law of the sea, and State practice.

The law that applies to maritime operations at sea is complex and comprises two distinct elements: treaty law (1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), and the cases and incidents that occur at sea in both peacetime and during armed conflict which result in the creation of customary international law applicable to maritime operations at sea. Covering sovereignty and vessel status, jurisdiction and interdiction, freedom of navigation, maritime law enforcement and security, and the law of naval warfare, this edited collection brings together the most famous and influential cases and incidents at sea. Exploring the entire spectrum of maritime operations from ‘high end’ war-fighting to constabulary operations that are conducted by naval forces and maritime law enforcement agencies at sea to provide the factual circumstances of each case or incident; offering sophisticated analysis and insights into the case or incidents enduring importance, and their significance for the development of the law applicable to maritime operations; and offering a detailed account and evaluation of the most critical but rarely understood cases in maritime operations law, which encourages comparison between key cases, this book will be an essential reference for practitioners, scholars, teachers, and students of maritime operations law.

The law that applies to maritime operations at sea is complex and comprises two distinct elements: treaty law (1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), and the cases and incidents that occur at sea in both peacetime and during armed conflict which result in the creation of customary international law applicable to maritime operations at sea. Covering sovereignty and vessel status, jurisdiction and interdiction, freedom of navigation, maritime law enforcement and security, and the law of naval warfare, this edited collection brings together the most famous and influential cases and incidents at sea. Exploring the entire spectrum of maritime operations from ‘high end’ war-fighting to constabulary operations that are conducted by naval forces and maritime law enforcement agencies at sea to provide the factual circumstances of each case or incident; offering sophisticated analysis and insights into the case or incidents enduring importance, and their significance for the development of the law applicable to maritime operations; and offering a detailed account and evaluation of the most critical but rarely understood cases in maritime operations law, which encourages comparison between key cases, this book will be an essential reference for practitioners, scholars, teachers, and students of maritime operations law.

This book questions the use of salvage law as legal regulatory framework for the remuneration of environmental services in salvage operations, proposing that such services should be based on direct contracting between commercial salvors and coastal States. Adopting an environment-first approach, it argues that direct contracting better serves and promotes environmental protection outcomes. It also takes a functional view of the law as a tool to promote values and sought outcomes. Salvage operations are recognised as the first line of defence against pollution following shipping incidents. Although regulated under the law of salvage, these operations form an integral component of a framework of environmental protection measures regulated under different legal instruments or laws. The law of salvage fails to effectively integrate salvage operations into broader pollution response mechanisms because it does not align comfortably with this framework of laws. Despite the emphasis on environmental protection in the 1989 London Salvage Convention, the Convention maintains the traditional notion of salvage operations as a service to property, while environmental outcomes and the remuneration of environmental services are positioned as a secondary outcome of the law of salvage. This book argues that directly contracting for environmental services bolsters the primacy of environmental protection and the functional use of law to further environmental protection and policy formulation. Direct contracting between coastal States and salvors for environmental services complements existing practices and pollution response mechanisms and provides a sound legal basis for the effective realisation of salvage operations as the first line of defence against pollution following shipping incidents without fundamentally altering the established commercial identity of the traditional law of salvage. This book will be key reading for students, academics, and practitioners working at the intersection of shipping and environmental law.

This book questions the use of salvage law as legal regulatory framework for the remuneration of environmental services in salvage operations, proposing that such services should be based on direct contracting between commercial salvors and coastal States. Adopting an environment-first approach, it argues that direct contracting better serves and promotes environmental protection outcomes. It also takes a functional view of the law as a tool to promote values and sought outcomes. Salvage operations are recognised as the first line of defence against pollution following shipping incidents. Although regulated under the law of salvage, these operations form an integral component of a framework of environmental protection measures regulated under different legal instruments or laws. The law of salvage fails to effectively integrate salvage operations into broader pollution response mechanisms because it does not align comfortably with this framework of laws. Despite the emphasis on environmental protection in the 1989 London Salvage Convention, the Convention maintains the traditional notion of salvage operations as a service to property, while environmental outcomes and the remuneration of environmental services are positioned as a secondary outcome of the law of salvage. This book argues that directly contracting for environmental services bolsters the primacy of environmental protection and the functional use of law to further environmental protection and policy formulation. Direct contracting between coastal States and salvors for environmental services complements existing practices and pollution response mechanisms and provides a sound legal basis for the effective realisation of salvage operations as the first line of defence against pollution following shipping incidents without fundamentally altering the established commercial identity of the traditional law of salvage. This book will be key reading for students, academics, and practitioners working at the intersection of shipping and environmental law.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (‘UNCLOS’) is hailed as one of the most significant multilateral legal agreements executed in the past few decades. However, its shortcomings are neither trivial nor inconsequential, especially regarding maritime boundary disputes involving hydrocarbon resources. This monograph examines the relationship between UNCLOS and maritime boundaries in five non-polar regions, encompassing almost 90% of global unresolved disputes involving offshore hydrocarbon development. The regions, which include the eastern Mediterranean, the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, northeast Asia, and the South China Sea, were chosen for their oil and gas resources potential and recent military skirmishes that have the potential to lead to wider regional confrontations. The book addresses each region’s maritime boundary status in the context of specific articles within UNCLOS that have been exploited by disputing states to justify their overlapping claims. The history and future applicability of multilateral Joint Development Area agreements for each region are evaluated for their potential to provide a cooperative solution to resolve ongoing tensions. Highlighting the limitations of current ‘gun-boat’ diplomacy, the monograph makes practical suggestions for new paradigms for resolving outstanding disputes, promoting lasting peace and generating economic benefits resulting from resource development.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (‘UNCLOS’) is hailed as one of the most significant multilateral legal agreements executed in the past few decades. However, its shortcomings are neither trivial nor inconsequential, especially regarding maritime boundary disputes involving hydrocarbon resources. This monograph examines the relationship between UNCLOS and maritime boundaries in five non-polar regions, encompassing almost 90% of global unresolved disputes involving offshore hydrocarbon development. The regions, which include the eastern Mediterranean, the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, northeast Asia, and the South China Sea, were chosen for their oil and gas resources potential and recent military skirmishes that have the potential to lead to wider regional confrontations. The book addresses each region’s maritime boundary status in the context of specific articles within UNCLOS that have been exploited by disputing states to justify their overlapping claims. The history and future applicability of multilateral Joint Development Area agreements for each region are evaluated for their potential to provide a cooperative solution to resolve ongoing tensions. Highlighting the limitations of current ‘gun-boat’ diplomacy, the monograph makes practical suggestions for new paradigms for resolving outstanding disputes, promoting lasting peace and generating economic benefits resulting from resource development.

International law concerning maritime boundary dispute resolution reflects normative aspirations for peacefully managing some of the most intractable challenges in foreign affairs. Focusing on key international law issues relating to maritime boundary disputes, this book explores how international law and legal institutions facilitate these goals theoretically and practically. This process includes a balance of equities among states grounded in the Charter of the United Nations and the protection of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of Member States, while avoiding threats to the peace, breaches of the peace, and acts of aggression. The UN Charter is complemented by the rules in customary law and UNCLOS for evaluating maritime claims and addressing disputes, including conciliation, litigation, and arbitration. Despite the comprehensive nature of these procedures, numerous maritime disputes persist, including those in the East China Sea and South China Sea. As the disputes continue, however, general international law and the UNCLOS framework captures additional norms and rules that may act to reduce tension and manage disputes. As States shift closer to or farther from compliance on maritime claims and delimitation, the rules of behavior that pertain to flag States and coastal States may help to maintain the peace. This volume offers a distributed study in the factors affecting maritime disputes, international law frameworks and diplomatic models for addressing them, and legal, security, and historical dynamics in East Asia. The book goes beyond the existing debate to offer suitable methods for managing contemporary disputes and makes a meaningful impact on thinking about regional maritime security and international maritime law.

International law concerning maritime boundary dispute resolution reflects normative aspirations for peacefully managing some of the most intractable challenges in foreign affairs. Focusing on key international law issues relating to maritime boundary disputes, this book explores how international law and legal institutions facilitate these goals theoretically and practically. This process includes a balance of equities among states grounded in the Charter of the United Nations and the protection of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of Member States, while avoiding threats to the peace, breaches of the peace, and acts of aggression. The UN Charter is complemented by the rules in customary law and UNCLOS for evaluating maritime claims and addressing disputes, including conciliation, litigation, and arbitration. Despite the comprehensive nature of these procedures, numerous maritime disputes persist, including those in the East China Sea and South China Sea. As the disputes continue, however, general international law and the UNCLOS framework captures additional norms and rules that may act to reduce tension and manage disputes. As States shift closer to or farther from compliance on maritime claims and delimitation, the rules of behavior that pertain to flag States and coastal States may help to maintain the peace. This volume offers a distributed study in the factors affecting maritime disputes, international law frameworks and diplomatic models for addressing them, and legal, security, and historical dynamics in East Asia. The book goes beyond the existing debate to offer suitable methods for managing contemporary disputes and makes a meaningful impact on thinking about regional maritime security and international maritime law.

Proposing a systematic analytical framework which assists in understanding and applying the international law regime governing State ocean jurisdiction with a view to improved ocean governance for sustainable development, this book distinguishes between, and focuses on, the form, the ground, the scope and the purpose of State ocean jurisdiction. Defining jurisdiction as the international-law authority of a State to be involved in a factual matter on the basis of a valid legal ground to perform authoritative acts impacting on that matter, it disaggregates the concept the complexity of which often leads to States failing to make full use of their existing ocean jurisdictions. In the process, it identifies when and to what extent there are gaps and overlaps of jurisdictions. Bringing clarity on an inevitably complex and often misunderstood framework that is aimed at striking a universally accepted balance of competing interests, the book lays the foundation for future research, contextualising the position of State ocean jurisdiction not only in terms of ocean governance, but in the whole of public international law. With an original systematic focus on State ocean jurisdiction, the book will be of interest to academics, students and practitioners working in the areas of international law of the sea, ocean governance, human rights and environmental law.

Proposing a systematic analytical framework which assists in understanding and applying the international law regime governing State ocean jurisdiction with a view to improved ocean governance for sustainable development, this book distinguishes between, and focuses on, the form, the ground, the scope and the purpose of State ocean jurisdiction. Defining jurisdiction as the international-law authority of a State to be involved in a factual matter on the basis of a valid legal ground to perform authoritative acts impacting on that matter, it disaggregates the concept the complexity of which often leads to States failing to make full use of their existing ocean jurisdictions. In the process, it identifies when and to what extent there are gaps and overlaps of jurisdictions. Bringing clarity on an inevitably complex and often misunderstood framework that is aimed at striking a universally accepted balance of competing interests, the book lays the foundation for future research, contextualising the position of State ocean jurisdiction not only in terms of ocean governance, but in the whole of public international law. With an original systematic focus on State ocean jurisdiction, the book will be of interest to academics, students and practitioners working in the areas of international law of the sea, ocean governance, human rights and environmental law.

This book conducts an examination of the international legal regime of the continental shelf through the lens of international relations (IR), with a primary focus on global governance theory.Presenting a new perspective within the field of IR and international law, the book offers new insights into the rules, principles, practices, and actors that establish and govern social interactions and the management of common affairs at the transnational level. The governance framework within the continental shelf can encompass a wider scope than legal laws alone, incorporating informal rules or potentially disregarding formal “black letter” rules that may not be effectively applied in practice. To exemplify how governance theory and other IR theories contribute to the analysis of the legal regime concerning the continental shelf, the book conducts an in-depth examination of three significant issues: (i) the demarcation and delimitation of the continental shelf, (ii) the rights and obligations of coastal States in the continental shelf, and (iii) procedural matters related to the continental shelf and international maritime adjudication.This book will be of interest to students and scholars in the field of the law of the sea, international law, global governance, and international relations.

This book discusses contemporary challenges within the law of the sea, a domain of international law extensively codified in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.Given the considerable time elapsed since the convention’s adoption and nearly three decades of its implementation, the book analyses the interplay and influence of its provisions on international customary law, as well as to identify issues arising from its application. The book explores and discusses crucial aspects of the law of the sea, addressing challenges and future perspectives related to UNCLOS provisions, such as the delimitation of maritime areas, maritime security, safety, environmental protection, and the implications of advancing technologies, particularly in the realm of unmanned vessels. Additionally, the book delves into recent maritime legal challenges arising from the conflict in Ukraine and the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.The book will be of interest to students and scholars in the field of the law of the sea, international relations and international law.The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

This book conducts an examination of the international legal regime of the continental shelf through the lens of international relations (IR), with a primary focus on global governance theory.Presenting a new perspective within the field of IR and international law, the book offers new insights into the rules, principles, practices, and actors that establish and govern social interactions and the management of common affairs at the transnational level. The governance framework within the continental shelf can encompass a wider scope than legal laws alone, incorporating informal rules or potentially disregarding formal “black letter” rules that may not be effectively applied in practice. To exemplify how governance theory and other IR theories contribute to the analysis of the legal regime concerning the continental shelf, the book conducts an in-depth examination of three significant issues: (i) the demarcation and delimitation of the continental shelf, (ii) the rights and obligations of coastal States in the continental shelf, and (iii) procedural matters related to the continental shelf and international maritime adjudication.This book will be of interest to students and scholars in the field of the law of the sea, international law, global governance, and international relations.

This book examines the challenge of negotiating and implementing new legal regimes addressing contemporary ocean challenges in the context of uncertain planetary futures.The book covers the themes of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Contributors examine a range of emerging, understudied issues, including the legal regulation of ocean acidification, the development of the mining code by the International Seabed Authority, the implementation of the 2023 Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, and compliance mechanisms developed by the International Maritime Organization. Other chapters look at energy transition, green technology, and marine pollution from shipping.Contributing to global discussions on sustainable development, this book will be of vital interest to scholars of the law of the sea, environmental law, and sustainable development.

This book provides an accessible and detailed examination of the intricate legal frameworks governing maritime security and jurisdiction at sea, systematically exploring the impact of key international law concepts on maritime security.As maritime security threats increasingly intersect with broader global challenges, including illegal fishing, climate migration and forced labour, this book fills critical gaps in legal understanding. Through clear explanations and real-world examples, it navigates the fragmented landscape of maritime law and enforcement. Divided into three parts, the first section guides readers through maritime zones, from internal waters to the high seas, clarifying the legal rights and responsibilities of coastal and flag states as established in combating maritime crimes. The second part addresses contemporary maritime crimes, such as piracy, drug and human trafficking, migrant smuggling, terrorism and environmental offences, providing practical insights into international legal regulations and enforcement mechanisms. Finally, the third part explores the lawful use of force at sea and examines the increasing overlap between maritime law enforcement and human rights obligations. This book bridges the gap between theoretical maritime law and practical security challenges, offering clarity and actionable insights for safer and legally compliant maritime operations.The book will be of interest to researchers in the field of maritime law, maritime security and the law of the sea.

The origins of the maritime dispute between Chile and Peru go back to 1952, when these countries, along with Ecuador, asserted sovereignty over 200 nautical miles from their coasts. This maritime claim is widely regarded as one of the most important contributions by a group of developing countries to the law of the sea. Peru then asked the Court of International Justice to delimit its lateral boundary with Chile in accordance with principles of international law. Chile asked the Court to dismiss the request. The question before the ICJ Justice was whether the treaty concluded by the parties when they made their claim had also delimited their lateral boundary. This book provides a critical analysis of the approach to treaty interpretation by the International Court of Justice in Maritime Disputes. Focusing on the case of Chile and Peru, the book explores two main issues: the interpretation of the Santiago Declaration and its connected treaties; and the tacit agreement that established a lateral maritime boundary with a seaward extension of 80 nautical miles. Part I argues that the Court’s finding that the Santiago Declaration did not delimit the lateral boundary is mistaken because it ignores its context, as well as its object and purpose. Part II argues that the finding that the parties had entered into a tacit agreement is an unjustified legal inference derived from a hasty interpretation of the Special Agreement of 1954. It questions that the reliability of the evidence used to determine the seaward extent of the lateral boundary and argues that the Court failed to demonstrate the bearing of contemporaneous developments in the law of the sea on the content of the tacit agreement.