In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, visits to the premises of the Tribunal are restricted until further notice.
Mr Antoine Ollivier Elected as Deputy Registrar of the Tribunal
The Judges of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea elected Mr Antoine Ollivier, of French nationality, as the Deputy Registrar of the Tribunal today.
Election of Members of the Tribunal
Pending the circulation of the required SPLOS documents at the meeting of States Parties, the list of candidates nominated for election as judges by States Parties has been made available.
ITLOS Co-hosts Symposium on Flag State Responsibilities and the Future of Article 91 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
On 5 March 2020, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) co-hosted a Symposium on flag State responsibilities and the future of article 91 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea at IMO headquarters in London. The Symposium was organized by the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) and the World Maritime University (WMU) and was attended by delegates from IMO Member States, representatives from international organizations, maritime lawyers and academics. Opening remarks were given by the Secretary-General of IMO, Mr Kitack Lim, by the President of the Tribunal, Judge Jin-Hyun Paik and the Vice-President of the Tribunal, Judge David Attard.
» ITLOS – Nippon Foundation Capacity-Building and Training Programme on Dispute Settlement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
The Tribunal is pleased to announce the launch of its 2020-2021 capacity-building and training programme on dispute settlement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is organized with the support of the Nippon Foundation. The programme is aimed at junior to mid-level government officials and researchers who are currently working on issues related to the law of the sea, maritime law or dispute settlement.
The programme will run from 13 July 2020 to 31 March 2021.
The deadline for the submission of applications is 3 April 2020.
» IFLOS Summer Academy
The International Foundation for the Law of the Sea will hold its 14th Summer Academy, ‘Promoting Ocean Governance and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes’, at the seat of the Tribunal in Hamburg from 9 August to 4 September 2020.
Dispute concerning delimitation of the maritime boundary between Mauritius and Maldives in the Indian Ocean
18 December 2019
The Republic of Maldives has filed preliminary objections to the jurisdiction of the Special Chamber of the Tribunal and to the admissibility of the claims submitted by the Republic of Mauritius in the Dispute concerning delimitation of the maritime boundary between Mauritius and Maldives in the Indian Ocean.
The Swiss Confederation and the Federal Republic of Nigeria transmit their dispute concerning the M/T “San Padre Pio” to the Tribunal
17 December 2019
The Swiss Confederation and the Federal Republic of Nigeria transmitted a special agreement and notification to the Tribunal today to submit to the Tribunal their dispute concerning the arrest and detention of the M/T “San Padre Pio”, its crew and cargo.
 |
President Paik addresses the General Assembly
10 December 2019
President Paik addressed the General Assembly on Tuesday, emphasizing the Tribunal’s increasing attraction for States seeking to settle disputes arising under the Convention.
A webcast of the statement of the President’s statement to the United Nations General Assembly may be viewed on UN Web TV. Go to General Assembly: 43rd plenary meeting, 74th session 10 Dec 2019 - (continued) at 1:20:25 to 1:46:10.
 |
President Paik meets with the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres
9 December 2019
Before addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, President Paik met with UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.
 |
Honorary doctorate of the University of Hamburg awarded to President Paik
4 December 2019
President Paik was awarded an honorary doctorate (law) today by the University of Hamburg on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the University. The honorary doctorate was awarded by Professor Repgen, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Hamburg.
President Paik pays a courtesy call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Argentina
15 November 2019
President Paik and Registrar Hinrichs Oyarce paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Argentina, H.E. Jorge Faurie, today in Buenos Aires. President Paik was also invited to give a lecture at the ISEN (Foreign Service Institute) to graduates on “The rule of law in international relations and the role of international adjudication”.
 |
14th regional workshop opens in Montevideo
13 November 2019
The Tribunal’s fourteenth regional workshop was opened today by President Paik and Dr Carlos Mata Prates, Director of International Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, in Montevideo. The workshop, entitled “The role of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in the settlement of disputes relating to the law of the sea”, welcomes participants from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
President Paik meets the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay and the President of the Supreme Court of Justice
12 November 2019
President Paik paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, Mr Rodolfo Nin Novoa, in Montevideo today, together with Registrar Hinrichs Oyarce. He also met with the President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Uruguay, Mr Eduardo Turell. Earlier in the day, President Paik had the opportunity to give a lecture on the work of the Tribunal to law students at the University of the Republic Law School in Montevideo.
ITLOS Newsletter
The Tribunal's fourth quarterly newsletter for 2019 is now available.
Delegation of Singapore visits the Tribunal
14 October 2019
A delegation from the Ministry of Law of Singapore, led by the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Law, H.E. Mr Ng How Yue, visited the Tribunal last week. H.E. Mr Ng How Yue paid a courtesy call on President Paik. The delegation also met with the Registrar and Legal Officers.
» Dispute concerning delimitation of the maritime boundary between Mauritius and Maldives in the Indian Ocean (Mauritius/Maldives)
27 September 2019
On 24 September 2019, the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of Maldives transmitted a special agreement and notification to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to submit their dispute concerning the delimitation of the maritime boundary in the Indian Ocean to a special chamber of the Tribunal to be constituted pursuant to article 15, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the Tribunal.
By Order of 27 September 2019, a special chamber of the Tribunal was formed to deal with the dispute.
Law of the sea practitioners and experts visit the Tribunal
26 September 2019
Participants of a high level international conference of law of the sea consisting of practitioners and visiting experts from countries particularly active in the maritime domain visited the Tribunal yesterday. They were given a guided tour of the premises before being welcomed by the President of the Tribunal, Judge Paik.
Members of the House of Representatives of Japan visit the Tribunal
25 September 2019
Mr Jiro Kawasaki and Mr Minoru Kiuchi, both Members of the House of Representatives of Japan, visited the Tribunal with the Consul General of Japan, Ms Kikuko Kato, and paid a courtesy call on President Paik. They also met with Judge Yanai and Registrar Hinrichs Oyarce.
The Government of Indonesia donates a model of the pinisi “Maritim Jaya” to the Tribunal
24 September 2019
H.E. Mr Safri Burhanuddin, Deputy Minister for Human Resources, Science and Technology and Maritime Culture Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, and H.E. Mr Arif Havas Oegroseno, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Federal Republic of Germany, visited the Tribunal today. H.E. Mr Burhanuddin presented the Tribunal with a model of the pinisi “Maritim Jaya”, a traditional Indonesian timber fishing vessel.
Ms Ximena Hinrichs Oyarce elected as Registrar
20 September 2019
The Judges of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea today elected Ms Ximena Hinrichs Oyarce, of Chilean nationality, as the Registrar of the Tribunal.
President Paik meets Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Mr Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.
22 August 2019
President Paik paid a courtesy call on the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Mr Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., on 22 August 2019 in Quezon City, on the occasion of the 7th Biennial Conference of the Asian Society of International Law. In a Special Forum on the sidelines of the conference President Paik delivered a keynote speech on “The role of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in the settlement of disputes related to the law of the sea: Current Trends and Other Developments”.
President Paik pays a courtesy call on Ms Kang Kyung-wha, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea
20 August 2019
President Paik met with Ms Kang Kyung-wha, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Ms Ji Yeon Kim, Director for Territory and Oceans, and Mr Ki-Jun You, Director General for International Legal Affairs, on 19 August 2019 in Seoul. President Paik was accompanied by Vice-President Attard, Judges Kateka and Heidar and Acting Registrar Hinrichs Oyarce. The ITLOS delegation is currently in Seoul in order to participate in the ROK – ITLOS law of the sea conference ‘New developments in the law of the sea and the role of ITLOS’.
IFLOS Summer Academy at the Tribunal
The Tribunal is currently hosting the 13th IFLOS Summer Academy ‘Promoting Ocean Governance and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes’ at its seat in Hamburg. 41 participants from 28 States are attending four weeks of lectures given by current and former Members of the Tribunal, professors, practitioners and professionals from the law of the sea and maritime fields.
Appointment of arbitrators under Annex VII to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
1 August 2019
President Paik appoints three arbitrators in the arbitral proceedings instituted by Ukraine against the Russian Federation in Respect of a dispute concerning the detention of three Ukrainian naval vessels and the twenty-four servicemen on board.
President Paik marks departure of Registrar Gautier
31 July 2019
The President presented a commemorative plaque to Mr Philippe Gautier on behalf of the Judges of the Tribunal in appreciation of his contribution to the work of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea from 1997 to 2019 and to mark his departure from the Tribunal on 31 July 2019.
With effect from 1st August 2019, the Deputy Registrar, Ms Ximena Hinrichs Oyarce, will act as Registrar pursuant to article 37, paragraph 1, of the Rules of the Tribunal.
President Paik speaks at the special commemorative session of the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority
25 July 2019
President Paik attended the special commemorative session of the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority, convened to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the establishment of the International Seabed Authority. He also delivered a statement highlighting the role of the Seabed Disputes Chamber in settling disputes arising from activities in the Area and giving advisory opinions relating to the work of the Authority.
>> The M/T “San Padre Pio” Case (Switzerland v. Nigeria), Provisional Measures
Today, 6 July 2019, the Tribunal delivered its Order in the M/T "San Padre Pio" Case (Switzerland v. Nigeria), Provisional Measures.
 |
President Paik speaks at IMLI’s 30th anniversary
27 June 2019
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), hosted at the Headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London on 25 June 2019, the President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Judge Jin-Hyun Paik, delivered a speech on “the rule of law and the importance of capacity building”.
President Paik reports to the Meeting of States Parties
On 17 June 2019, Judge Jin-Hyun Paik, President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, presented the Tribunal’s annual report for 2018 to the 29th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The President reported on the judicial activity of the Tribunal, including the recent developments which have kept the Tribunal busy since the beginning of the year.
Resignation of Registrar Philippe Gautier
3 June 2019
Mr Philippe Gautier, Registrar of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, has announced his resignation from the Tribunal after 22 years of service.
>> Case concerning the detention of three Ukrainian naval vessels (Ukraine v. Russian Federation), Provisional Measures
Tribunal orders the Russian Federation to release the three Ukrainian naval vessels and crew.
>> The M/V "Norstar" Case (Panama v. Italy)
10 April 2019
Tribunal delivers its Judgment in The M/V “Norstar” Case (Panama v. Italy)
In its Judgment, the Tribunal finds that Italy violated article 87, paragraph 1, of the Convention, that article 87, paragraph 2, of the Convention is not applicable in the case, and that Italy did not violate article 300 of the Convention. The Tribunal awards Panama compensation for the loss of the M/V “Norstar” in the amount of US$ 285,000 with interest.
First Mayor of Hamburg visits Tribunal
19 March 2019
President Paik welcomed the First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Dr Peter Tschentscher, to the Tribunal today. After the signing of the guest book, the First Mayor met with the Judges of the Tribunal.
The Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan visits the Tribunal
13 March 2019
The Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr Kenji Yamada, visited the Tribunal today and paid a courtesy call on President Paik, discussing inter alia the importance of the capacity building programmes held at the Tribunal. After a guided tour of the facilities, Mr Yamada met with the fellows currently participating in the ITLOS-Nippon Foundation Capacity-Building and Training Programme on Dispute Settlement under UNCLOS. During his discussion with the fellows, Mr Yamada emphasised the significant role that younger generations must play in supporting the rule of law and in the protection of the marine environment.
President Paik pays courtesy call on the Federal Foreign Minister, Mr Heiko Maas
Berlin, 5 March 2019
Judge Jin-Hyun Paik, President of the Tribunal, paid a courtesy call on the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, Mr Heiko Maas, at his offices in Berlin on 5 March 2019. The Minister and the President exchanged views on various matters, including peaceful settlement of maritime disputes around the world and strengthening the cooperation between the Tribunal and the German Government. President Paik expressed his special thanks for the strong support of the German Government to the work of the Tribunal.
 |
President Paik meets Mr Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, during his visit to Japan
14 February 2019
President Paik met with Foreign Minister Taro Kono on 14 February 2019 in Tokyo and discussed the importance of the Tribunal for the maintenance of the rule of law, the growing significance of the law of the sea and the importance of encouraging younger generations’ interest in maritime issues. On 13 February 2019, President Paik met Mr Kenji Yamada, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, with whom he discussed the importance of capacity building in this area of international law and reiterated the Tribunal’s gratitude for the assistance provided by the Nippon Foundation for capacity building at the Tribunal. During his visit to Japan, President Paik gave a lecture on 14 February 2019 at the Ocean Policy Research Institute on the “Contribution of ITLOS to the rule of Law”, co-hosted by the Institute and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan within the frame of the lecture series 'Ocean Forum'.
 |
President Paik addresses the United Nations General Assembly
11 December 2018
President Paik spoke on Agenda item 78 (a) at the plenary of the seventy-third session of the United Nations General Assembly.
A webcast of the statement may be viewed on UN Web TV. Go to General Assembly 73rd Session - 50th meeting (continued) at 32:00.
Capacity Building
>> ITLOS-Nippon Programme
In cooperation with the Nippon Foundation, the Tribunal runs an annual capacity-building and training programme on dispute settlement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The full-time programme, which runs for nine months and begins in July each year, takes place at the seat of the Tribunal in Hamburg, Germany.
The programme is aimed at junior to mid-level government officials and researchers currently working on issues related to the law of the sea or dispute settlement. It provides participants with a unique opportunity to develop their legal skills and deepen their practical knowledge of dispute settlement in the law of the sea under UNCLOS.
The thirteenth ITLOS-Nippon Foundation Capacity-Building and Training Programme on Dispute Settlement under UNCLOS began in July 2019.
>> Internship Programme
Approximately twenty internships are available each year for students of law, international relations, public relations, political science, library science and translation. The programme is designed to give participants the opportunity to gain an understanding of the work and functions of the Tribunal and to enable the Tribunal and its members to benefit from the assistance of persons with relevant knowledge and skills in areas within the scope of activities of the Tribunal.
The next available internships are from October to December 2020.
Application deadline: 30 June 2020.
