International Hydrographic Bureau, Principality of Monaco.
The IAG/IHO/IOC Advisory Board on Technical Aspects of the Law of the Sea (ABLOS) is pleased to announce its Fourth Biennial Scientific Conference, which will take place 10-12 October 2005 in Monaco. This years Conference will consist of two consecutive events: a one-day Tutorial Session on the fundamentals of implementing UNCLOS Article 76, followed by a two-day Symposium that will explore various topics within the Theme Marine Scientific Research and the Law of the Sea: the Balance between Coastal State and International Rights.
Conference organisers invite prospective speakers to submit abstracts that address various aspects of the Symposium theme. These will be accepted until May 31. There will be separate registrations for the Tutorial Session and the Symposium, with discounts available if paid before August 31. See below for details.
October 10: Tutorial session on the delimitation of the juridical continental shelf
Many coastal states are engaged in the process of developing their outer continental shelf limits in accordance with the provisions of Article 76 of UNCLOS. However, the need continues to be expressed for a quick means of familiarising newcomers and non-specialists to the more fundamental aspects of the operation. During this introductory tutorial session, knowledgeable Article 76 specialists will deliver a series of illustrated lectures and will direct a number of practical exercises aimed at familiarising participants with the primary activities involved in developing the outer limit of the extended continental shelf. Attendance at this session will be restricted on account of space limitations.
October 11-12: Symposium on the impact of UNCLOS on Marine Scientific Research
The Symposium Theme is: Marine Scientific Research and the Law of the Sea: the Balance between Coastal State and International Rights.
The Law of the Sea Convention contains provisions that attempt to strike a balance between the rights and obligations of coastal and investigating states as they relate to data collection and research within zones of coastal state jurisdiction, i.e. the Territorial Sea, the Exclusive Economic Zone, and the Extended Continental Shelf. There is concern that misuse or misinterpretation of these provisions could lead to contention between coastal and investigating states, thereby hindering the progress of international marine research in critical fields that transcend purely national interests, e.g. tsunami prediction and warning, extreme weather events, biodiversity protection, safety of navigation, etc. During this Symposium, speakers will discuss the provisions of UNCLOS that relate to Marine Scientific Research, and will review their practical effect on the seagoing operations that are undertaken by the international oceanographic community.
Language
English will be the language of the Conference, of the Tutorial materials, and of the Symposium Proceedings. No translation services will be available.
Call for Symposium papers
Conference organizers will welcome contributed Symposium papers that explore the nature and the effects of UNCLOS constraints on international Marine Scientific Research (MSR). Speakers will be encouraged to outline selected legislation, and where appropriate to describe case histories, actual situations, or real-world experiences that could offer lessons to regulators and investigators on how best to avoid problems in the conduct of research within zones of national jurisdiction.
The following is a list of suggested topics:
Abstracts will be accepted until June 30. Instructions and an Abstract Submission Form may be found here, RTF or PDF forms.
Registration
There will be separate registrations for the Tutorial Session and the Symposium. For the Tutorial Session, the fee is 80 Euro. For the Symposium, the fee is 160 Euro. Discounts will be available on fees paid before August 31.
Instructions for payment and the Registration Form may be found here, in RTF or PDF forms.
Travel and accommodation information
Go to the IHO Website. Click first on About the IHO then Visiting the IHB.
The IHB has negotiated reduced rates and block-booked a total of 80 rooms: 40 at the Terminus Hotel (110 Euros incl Breakfast) and 40 at the Balmoral Hotel (105 Euros + 16 Euros for Breakfast) for the period 8-12 October. Participants wishing to stay in one of these establishments are requested to use the Hotel Booking Form ( RTF or PDF forms ) in order to qualify for a reduced rate.
Conference Organizing Committee
Chairman: Chris RIZOS, University of New South Wales, c.rizos@unsw.edu.au
Co-Chairman: Shin TANI, Japan Coast Guard, stani@jodc.go.jp
Tutorial coordinators: Don GRANT, Land Information New Zealand, dgrant@linz.govt.nz
Chris RIZOS, University of New South Wales, c.rizos@unsw.edu.au
Symposium coordinators: Chris CARLETON, UK Hydrographic Office, Chris.Carleton@ukho.gov.uk
Elie JARMACHE, Institut Franais pour les Recherches de la Mer, elie.jarmache@ifremer.fr
Registrations, Local Arrangements, and Proceedings: Steve SHIPMAN, International Hydrographic Bureau, sshipman@ihb.mc
Publicity: Ron MACNAB, Geological Survey of Canada (Retired), ron.macnab@ns.sympatico.ca
Past ABLOS Conferences
Past ABLOS Conferences have dealt with: Technical Aspects of Maritime Boundary Delineation and Delimitation (1999); Accuracies and Uncertainties in Maritime Boundaries and Outer Limits (2001); and Addressing Difficult Issues in UNCLOS (2003). Proceedings of these Conferences are available for download.