MASS and Flag States: The nexus between UNCLOS and the IMO Conventions

The Centre for International Law organized a series of webinars on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The webinar discussed the impacts of MASS on the rights and obligations of flag States under UNCLOS. In particular, this webinar focussed on the link between the IMO Conventions and UNCLOS provisions through “rules of reference”. It examined whether amendments to the IMO conventions will resolve issues concerning the obligations of flag States to exercise effective jurisdiction and control over MASS flying their flag. This Webinar will be of interest to government legal advisors and academics specializing in the law of the sea and the international regulation of shipping as well as representatives of the shipping industry. It will be also of particular interest to persons who have been following the work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its recently completed scoping exercise on MASS and IMO Conventions and regulations. MODERATOR Professor Robert C BECKMAN Head, Ocean Law & Policy Programme, Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore PANELLISTS Capt J Ashley ROACH CIL Visiting Senior Principal Research Fellow / Captain, JAGC, USN (ret), Office of the Legal Adviser, US Department of State (ret) Professor Aldo CHIRCOP Canada Research Chair in Maritime Law Policy, Dalhousie University Dr Henrik RINGBOM Professor, Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law, University of Oslo, Norway Dr Youri VAN LOGCHEM Senior Lecturer, Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law, Swansea University