On 16 November 2004 international community will commemorate the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Montego Bay Convention. The number of parties to the Convention currently stands at 145. This represents considerable progress towards universality. Ten years after its entry into force state practice has shown a strong adherence to its principles and norms. The Convention established the International Seabed Authority, the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. The law of the sea is at present challenged by new urgent and complex problems such as terrorism, piracy, organized crime, overfishing and degradation of the marine environment. It articulates the need of evolution and accomodation to the changing realities and interests. Nevertheless, whatever emerging issues the international community will face in the future, the Convention will provide the necessary legal framework for the steady evolution of the law of the sea.
Szelf kontynentalny położony poza 200 milami morskimi od linii podstawowej, od której mierzona jest szerokość morza terytorialnego, stanowi istotną wartość dla państw. Rozwój technologii pozwolił na gospodarcze wykorzystanie i naukowe badania odległych części dna i podziemia oceanów. Oceaniczne szelfy kontynentalne są bogate w żywe zasoby - cenne ze względu na zasoby genetyczne i ich komercyjne zastosowania. Również wiele zasobów nieożywionych znajduje się na oceanicznych szelfach, w tym węglowodory (ropa naftowa i gaz) i minerały (np. mangan, nikiel, kobalt, złoto, diamenty, miedź, cyna, tytan, żelazo, chrom i galena). W związku z tym niektóre państwa przeznaczyły znaczne środki finansowe na przeprowadzenie badań swoich szelfów kontynentalnych. Komisja ds. Granic Szelfu Kontynentalnego otrzymała siedemdziesiąt siedem wniosków i wydała dwadzieścia dziewięć zaleceń zgodnie z art. 76 ust. 8 Konwencji Narodów Zjednoczonych o prawie morza. W nadchodzących dziesięcioleciach oczekiwana jest dalsza poprawa możliwości technologicznych, pozwalających na dokładniejsze zbadanie odległych części oceanicznych szelfów kontynentalnych.
EN
The continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles (NM) accounts for a great value for States. The development of technologies and science has allowed the human economic and scientific activities on the deep parts of the ocean floor. The continental shelf is rich with living resources. The living resources of continental shelf are also valuable, since they possess valuable genetic resources for pharmaceuticals and commercial products. Many valuable non-living resources are situated on the continental shelf, including hydrocarbons (oil and gas) and minerals (e.g. manganese, nickel, cobalt, gold, diamonds, copper, tin, titanium, iron, chromium and galena). Therefore, States have spent significant resources on conducting a research and exploring their continental shelf and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) has received seventy-seven submissions and issued twenty-nine recommendations pursuant to Article 76 (8) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). With the expected improvement of technological capabilities in decades to come, especially, in deep waters, the continental shelf will be explored more thoroughly and perhaps will meet no technological limits.
At the beginning of the 21st century, a noticeable phenomenon was the renaissance of piracy, which carried with it an increase in the threat to the security of trade circulation, the burden on the global economy, the intensity of organized crime and other problems of the regions affected by pirate activity. Thanks to the effective response of the international community, the problem in the regions most affected by piracy - the territorial waters of Somalia and the Gulf of Guinea - has been brought under control and largely resolved, reaching in 2022 the lowest level of pirate activity in 30 years. The work covers the characteristics of modern maritime piracy, its inclusion in international law and the presentation of legal norms that characterize the basic principles of combating it, which countries and international organizations should follow in the course of their activities. Selected actions of international organizations will also be analyzed, along with their consequences.
PL
Na początku wieku XXI zauważalnym zjawiskiem był renesans piractwa, który niósł z sobą wzrost zagrożenia dla bezpieczeństwa obrotu handlowego, obciążenia dla gospodarki globalnej, natężenie przestępczości zorganizowanej i innych problemów państw regionów objętych działalnością współczesnych piratów. Dzięki skutecznej reakcji międzynarodowej społeczności problem ten w regionach najbardziej dotkniętymi piractwem – wodach terytorialnych Somalii oraz Zatoce Gwinejskiej udało się opanować i w znacznej mierze zażegnać, osiągając w roku 2022 najniższy stopień aktywności piratów od 30 lat. Praca obejmuje charakterystykę współczesnego piractwa morskiego, jego ujęcie w prawie międzynarodowym oraz przedstawienie norm prawnych, które charakteryzują podstawowe zasady jego zwalczania, jakimi kraje i organizacje międzynarodowe powinny kierować się w trakcie swojej działalności. Analizie zostaną poddane również wybrane działania organizacji międzynarodowych wraz z ich skutkami.
This article examines the legal and philosophical foundations of international environmental law. It analyses the legal regime of the Common Heritage of Mankind (Humankind) (CHM), Common Concern of Mankind (Humankind) (CCM), and the principles of intra- and intergenerational equity. The regime of CHM covers the Moon and other celestial bodies and the “Area” under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The regime of CCM relates to areas such as climate change and biodiversity. Both CHM and CCM are based on a premise that certain areas of human activities are held in common interest for the whole community of States. In this context, the article claims that the underlying, foundational principles of international environmental law have the common theme of intra- and intergenerational equity.
The marine pollution is rarely debated from the perspective of land-based sources of pollution under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This article centres not only on a land-based source of pollution of the sea, but also a very particular one – the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident. Apart from causing severe infrastructural damage and posing a radiation-related threat to the public, Fukushima has had a lasting impact on the marine environment, too. Especially, since the operator of the plant has so far been unsuccessful in completely eliminating the radioactive leakage into the seas. This article considers the actual impact of the accident on the marine life along with the relevant recovery and remediation measures aimed to limit said impact, all in the light of the provisions of UNCLOS. Especially, with regard to its problematic (rather underdeveloped) enforcement and sanctioning system which should be more balanced, considering the various contemporary sources of pollution of the seas. Notwithstanding, UNCLOS will most likely further strengthen international cooperation with the ultimate aim of preventing the pollution of the world’s oceans.
This article examines the meaning and evolution of the practical implementation of the ‘genuine link’ concept over the years since the rise of the flag-of-convenience (FOC) registries in the 1920s. The author notes that while the competition between Flag States become fiercer, the regulations on ship safety, pollution prevention or shipboard working and living conditions are becoming standardized and ubiquitous. By being regulated by international instruments, in effect restricting regulatory powers of Flag States. Likewise, the enforcement of these provisions is becoming internationalized – with the omnipresence of classification societies and introduction of PSC regimes. At the same time, author identifies a lack of adequate regulations in respect of employment of seafarers, most notably wages and social security contributions, both at the national (Flag State) and international level. This legal loophole encourages Port States to introduce local solutions, irrespective of Flag State regulations. Such developments weaken the ‘genuineness’ of the ‘genuine link’ between ship and its Flag State.
The article’s primary purpose is to analyse maritime governance in the Global South. The Global South is responsible for the most significant share of living and non-living resources and the vastest part of the world’s seas and oceans. State and non-state actors located in the Southern Hemisphere face similar challenges of unsustainable exploitation of fishery and fossils, growing expansion of the Global North, illicit actions of non-state actors threatening the security of Sea Lines of Communication, and climate change posing existential jeopardy through the rise of sea level. The article attempts to answer the research questions of how the Global South countries differ in their maritime governance approaches, the reasons behind those differences, and what common points can be identified in their actions. The comparative study is applied to find differences and similarities in their search for the most effective model of maritime governance. The basis of the comparative study is not three oceans – Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic, but two continents – Africa and Asia, and their institutional frameworks in significant areas of maritime governance – legal, security, and blue economy. The article claims that existing channels of coordination and several ideas proposed by leaders of the Global South within the United Nations and regional trade and political platforms of cooperation in the 21st century could serve as instruments enabling the implementation of ideas of trans-continental cooperation and oceanic corridors.
Każde środowisko, w tym w szczególności środowisko morskie, stanowi ekosystem nacechowany znacznymi wzajemnymi zależnościami gatunków go zamieszkujących. W większości przypadków, morskie ekosystemy wykraczają poza granice suwerenności Państw. Ich ochrona oraz zachowanie powinny więc być przedsięwzięte na zasadzie współpracy wszystkich Państw dzielących wspólne im środowisko. Pierwszą międzynarodową konwencją regulującą kwestię ochrony środowiska morskiego w sposób systemowy jest Konwencja NZ o prawie morza (UNCLOS). Jest to również konwencja, która w sposób bezpośredni nakłada na państwa obowiązek współpracy w tym zakresie. Jednakże, jednolita regulacja szczebla międzynarodowego nie jest w stanie uwzględnić różnic pomiędzy środowiskami morskimi różnych regionów świata. Jak pokazuje przykład Morza Południowochińskiego, brak współpracy Państw przybrzeżnych może prowadzić do nieodwracalnych w skutkach szkód w środowisku morskim. Z drugiej strony, przykładem modelowej realizacji obowiązku współpracy są działania podejmowane w regionie Morza Bałtyckiego. Opisane doświadczenia prowadzą do wniosku, iż realizacja obowiązku współpracy na poziomie regionalnym jest warunkiem sine qua non skutecznej ochrony i zachowania środowiska morskiego.
EN
The environment in general and the marine environment in particular forms an ecosystem. Such ecosystem is characterized by high interconnectivity and interdependence of species inhabiting it. Often enough, marine ecosystems far exceed the limits of the State’s sovereignty. Thus, their effective protection and preservation shall be carried out on a cooperative basis, engaging all States sharing common environment. The first international treaty to tackle the issue of marine environmental protection on a systemic basis is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is also a treaty which directly established an obligation to cooperate in ensuring this protection. However, homogenous international regulation is not capable of addressing regional varying circumstances of marine environment. As the example of the South China Sea shows, lack of cooperation between coastal States can result in an irreversible damage to the environment. On the other hand, a remarkable model of effective realization of the obligation to cooperate has been established in the region of the Baltic Sea. What we can learn from these experiences is that fulfillment of the obligation to cooperate on a regional basis is a prerequisite for effective protection and preservation of the marine environment.
The primary aim of the article is to analyse domestic and regional sources of maritime governance in the Bay of Bengal in the 21st century from a constructivist viewpoint. It offers a comparative examination of domestic and external factors shaping maritime governance in the region, illustrating how Kantian-style anarchy prevails over Hobbesian and Lockean models. The article explores the roots of the maritime culture of sharing, cooperation, and trade in the Bay of Bengal, which stems from Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim traditions and aligns with the Kantian model. The recognition of the agency of seas and oceans by Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand is analysed within the context of natural disasters and their role in safeguarding the security of the Sea Lanes of Communication. They regard the sea as an integral and objective part of their lives, intertwined with the fabric of maritime societies. Despite the political diversity in the region, domestic and regional factors play a crucial and positive role in shaping maritime policies, fostering confidence in the importance of developing international cooperation in the maritime sector. The article is divided into four sections. The first – introduction – outlines the main ideas, research questions, hypotheses, and the structure of the article. The following section explains the conceptual framework, presenting the constructivist perspective on anarchy in international relations and its relevance to the maritime domain. The third section provides a detailed analysis of regional and domestic influences on the maritime domain and maritime governance concepts in the Bay of Bengal, offering a thorough understanding of the topic. Finally, the article concludes by summarizing all assumptions and addressing the research questions.
Celem opracowania jest zbadanie znaczenia argumentacji ekonomicznej w międzynarodowych sporach morskich. W artykule wyjaśniono najpierw, czym jest międzynarodowy spór morski, jakie są jego źródła i rodzaje, jakim zasadom podlega ich rozwiązywanie. Ustalono także, co należy rozumieć przez argumenty ekonomiczne, podkreślając ich relatywną naturę, a także pokazując potencjał, jakim dysponuje Konwencja o prawie morza z 1982 r. jako podstawa formułowania argumentacji ekonomicznej. Znaczenie argumentacji ekonomicznej rozważono w odniesieniu do międzynarodowych sporów dotyczących statusu prawnego terytoriów morskich, delimitacji stref morskich, władzy nad morzem i korzystania z morza. Przeprowadzone badania prowadzą do następujących wniosków: 1) argumenty ekonomiczne występują tak w uzasadnieniu stanowisk stron, jak i w rozumowaniu organów rozstrzygających spory. Jednak ich wartość dowodowa jest ograniczona; 2) w sporach dotyczących statusu obiektów morskich (maritime features) rozumowanie ekonomiczne pojawia się w kontekście konieczności wykazania, że mogą one stanowić podstawę do delimitacji; 3) w sporach dotyczących jurysdykcji argumenty ekonomiczne są bardziej złożone i niejednorodne. Argumenty ekonomiczne są użyteczne w drugim etapie delimitacji, gdy uwzględnia się istotne okoliczności. Istniejąca praktyka pokazuje jednak, że zakres akceptacji argumentów ekonomicznych jest ograniczony (nie mogą one służyć jako podstawa korygowania naturalnych nierówności). Orzecznictwo nie aprobuje argumentów opartych na poziomie rozwoju gospodarczego czy też na gospodarczych lub finansowych trudnościach państwa (z wyjątkiem katastrofalnych skutków dla egzystencji i dobrobytu ekonomicznego (ludności), potrzebach rozwoju gospodarczego lub wykonywaniu morskiej działalności gospodarczej (wydobycie, rybołówstwo, żegluga). Pewne znaczenie ma argument związany z zapewnieniem jedności zasobów (gdy zasoby są znane lub łatwo je ustalić); 4) w sporach dotyczących władzy nad morzem pewną wagę ma argument związany z ustanowieniem władzy gospodarczej, w szczególności o charakterze regulacyjnym i kontrolnym; 5) w sporach związanych z korzystaniem z morza znaczenie rozumowania ekonomicznego jest zróżnicowane. W sporach dotyczących niezwłocznego zwolnienia statku rola argumentacji ekonomicznej jest ograniczona. Natomiast jest ona ważna w sporach związanych z naruszeniem praw i interesów ekonomicznych państw i osób, jeżeli są one chronione prawem międzynarodowym
EN
The aim of the study is to examine the importance of economic argumentation in international maritime disputes. The paper first explains what the international maritime disputes, their sources and types are, what principles they are subjected to. It also established what should be understood by economic arguments, emphasizing their relative nature, as well as showing the potential of the Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 as a basis for formulating economic argumentation. The importance of economic argumentation was considered in relation to international disputes regarding the legal status of maritime territories, delimitation of maritime zones, power over the sea and use of the sea.Research, carried out, leads to the following conclusions: 1) economic arguments are present in the reasoning of the parties as well as dispute settlement bodies. However, their probative value is limited; 2) in disputes related to the status of maritime features economic reasoning appears in the context of necessity to demonstrate that they can be a basis for delimitation; 3) in delimitation disputes, addressing economic arguments is more complex and contradictory. Economic arguments may be useful in the second phase of delimitation when relevant circumstances are considered. However, the existing practice shows that the range of economic arguments is limited (they cannot serve as a reason for correction of natural inequalities). International jurisprudence denies taking into account arguments based on level of economic development or economic or financial difficulties of a state (except for the catastrophic repercussions for the livelihood and economic wellbeing of the population), the needs of economic development or performance of economic activities (mining, fishing, shipping). An argument associated with assurance of deposit unity is of some importance (when resources are known or readily ascertainable); 4) in disputes concerning the power over the sea some weight is held by an argument associated with the establishment of economic authority, in particular, of a regulatory and control nature; 5) in disputes related to the use of the sea, the importance of economic reasoning is varied. In disputes concerning the prompt release, the role of the economic argument is limited. On the contrary, it is relevant in disputes related to the violation of rights and economic interests of States and people, if they are protected by international law.
The South China Sea is one of the key interests of Chinese foreign policy. The author of the provided article will analyse geopolitical factors, including estimation of the total value of the resources of the South China Sea, further providing the reader with information about international law regulations regarding the analysed matter, as well as presenting the current situation on the South China Sea. During the realisation of said plan, the author will try to prove the thesis that the South China Sea is of utmost importance to the Republic of China, the thesis that international law is unable to resolve disputes arising from said sea, as well as the thesis that Chinese presence is gradually increasing on the South China Sea. After proving all of the highlighted theses, the author will present the most probable political forecast, as well as opinions presented in literature regarding this matter.
RU
Южно-Китайское море – это одна из главных тем, связанных с внешеей политикой Китайской Народной Республики. Автор статьи сделает анализ геополитических взаимоотношений на Южно-Китайском море, в том числе определит общую ценность натуральных залежей этой акватории, а также юридическую ситуацию на море. Автор представит и постарается доказать тезис о том, что Южно-Китайское море – это одна из главных территорий в создании внешеей политики Китая. Кроме того, представит тезис, что юридическо-международные договоры не в состоянии разрешать конфликты на море. В статьи идёт речь также о увеличении присутствия Китайской Народной Республики в этом регионе. В конце концов автор представит возможные варианты развития ситуации и мнения учёных на эту тему.
‘The special military operation’ conducted by the Russian Federation, including the ‘anti-terrorist operation’ in the Black and Azov Seas carried out by its Black Sea Fleet, meets the definition of aggression, which, in addition to violating the UN Charter, also violates the provisions of UNCLOS (Article 301) and the San Remo Manual (general provisions, first three sections). The unilateral announcement (through a navigational warning) of an ‘anti-terrorist operation’, and in fact a sea blockade of Ukrainian ports, is contrary to the content of UNCLOS (freedom of navigation) and does not meet the requirements for methods of fighting at sea (sea blockade, zones - San Remo Manual). The missile attacks on civilian and protected objects located on the territory of the Ukrainian state, carried out by ships and aircraft of the Black Sea Fleet, as well as artillery and missiles shelling of coastal towns, constitute a gross violation (war crime) of the international humanitarian law of armed conflicts (San Remo Manual). On contrary, the use of unmanned surface vehicles (drones) by the Ukrainian side in the arak on the Sevastopol base is in accordance with the provisions of the Manual (means of warfare at sea). Particular attention in the discussed armed conflict deserves art. 35 (c) UNCLOS relating to the Turkish Straits, which allows Turkey (based on the Montreaux Convention) to significantly influence the strategic and operational situation in the Black Sea by denying the use of the straits to warships (Turkey closed them to warships all flags). The voting procedure for informal members of the UN Security Council should be considered ineffective, which in the discussed case, when the aggressor is a state – a permanent member of the Security Council makes it difficult to apply measures provided for by international law against it and forces the use of ad hoc solutions, such as ‘grain corridors’.
The 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, held on 2 November 2001, passed a Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, an act of international law prepared for more than twenty years. The article discusses the history of the legislation undertakings which ultimately produced the text of the convention and explains the reasons for the lengthy absence of a consensus. The author delves into foremost controversial issues such as criteria for the definition of underwater cultural heritage, the relation between the titular convention and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the attitude of the convention to the law of salvage, the possibility of granting jurisdiction dealing with the protection of underwater cultural heritage to littoral states within the range of their exclusive economic zones and the Continental shelf and, finally, the relations between the convention in question and the ICOMOS Charter on the Protection and Management of Underwater Cultural Heritage. The article also offers a concise presentation of the contents of the most significant fragments of the ultimately accepted convention.
Opracowanie podejmuje kwestie wyzwań, przed którymi stoi prawo morza. Wprawdzie UNCLOS określana jest słusznie jako konstytucja prawa morza, ale nie daje ona i nie może dać odpowiedzi na wszystkie problemy i wątpliwości, które powstają w praktyce i są związane z ociepleniem klimatu, ochroną różnorodności biologicznej, statusem prawnym zasobów genetycznych, kontrowersjami dotyczącymi żeglugi, delimitacją obszarów morskich czy ochroną podwodnego dziedzictwa kulturalnego. Stąd powstaje pytanie, jakie są drogi i środki dalszego rozwoju prawa morza. Niewątpliwie jedną z możliwości jest wypracowanie porozumień implementacyjnych, z których trzecie poświęcone jest ochronie i zrównoważonemu korzystaniu z morskiej różnorodności biologicznej poza granicami jurysdykcji narodowej i jest przedmiotem konferencji międzynarodowej zwołanej przez Zgromadzenie Ogólne, którego rezolucje w obszarze prawa morza odgrywają istotną rolę. Niewątpliwie ważne znaczenie ma też działalność organizacji systemu Narodów Zjednoczonych, jak IMO, FAO, UNESCO, UNEP. Istnieje też możliwość przyjmowania umów podejmujących kwestie pozostawione przez UNCLOS bez rozwiązania czy zdefiniowania. Nie bez znaczenia jest też miękkie prawo oraz praktyka państw, a także stanowisko organów powołanych przez UNCLOS.
EN
The study addresses the challenges facing the law of the sea. Although UNCLOS is rightly described as a constitution of the law of the sea, it does not and cannot give answers to all problems and doubts that arise in practice and that are related to global warming, protection of biodiversity, legal status of genetic resources, controversy concerning shipping, delimitation of areas or the protection of underwater cultural heritage. Hence the question arises, what the ways and means of furtherdevelopment of the law of the sea are. Undoubtedly, one of the possibilities is to develop implementation agreements, of which the third devoted to the protection and sustainable use of marine biodiversity outside national jurisdiction is the subject of an international conference convened by the General Assembly, whose resolutions in the area of the law of the sea play an important role. Undoubtedly, also the importance of the organization of the United Nations system, such as the IMO, FAO, UNESCO, UNEP is significant. There is also the possibility of accepting agreements addressing the issues left by UNCLOS without solution or definition. Not without significance is the soft law and the practice of states as well as the position of the organs appointed by UNCLOS.