Erik J. Molenaar, UiT/NILOS.

Maritime navigation is as crucial for the international community today as it has been for centuries. International trade in goods depends to a large extent on international shipping, and ferry services continue to be the main mode of transport within and between states in many regions of the world. The military capability of many states also has a naval component and some depend on this to establish a presence or undertake military operations outside their own region, thereby rendering unimpeded passage through international straits of crucial importance. Finally, many other maritime activities (e.g. offshore hydrocarbon activities, laying submarine cables and pipelines, fishing and marine scientific research) use ships as operating platforms or for support." /> Erik J. Molenaar, UiT/NILOS.

Maritime navigation is as crucial for the international community today as it has been for centuries. International trade in goods depends to a large extent on international shipping, and ferry services continue to be the main mode of transport within and between states in many regions of the world. The military capability of many states also has a naval component and some depend on this to establish a presence or undertake military operations outside their own region, thereby rendering unimpeded passage through international straits of crucial importance. Finally, many other maritime activities (e.g. offshore hydrocarbon activities, laying submarine cables and pipelines, fishing and marine scientific research) use ships as operating platforms or for support." /> Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea | UiT

Navigation

Leader: Professor Erik J. Molenaar, UiT/NILOS.

Maritime navigation is as crucial for the international community today as it has been for centuries. International trade in goods depends to a large extent on international shipping, and ferry services continue to be the main mode of transport within and between states in many regions of the world. The military capability of many states also has a naval component and some depend on this to establish a presence or undertake military operations outside their own region, thereby rendering unimpeded passage through international straits of crucial importance. Finally, many other maritime activities (e.g. offshore hydrocarbon activities, laying submarine cables and pipelines, fishing and marine scientific research) use ships as operating platforms or for support.

This research area consists of four tasks:                                  

Task 1: Arctic shipping

The research to be undertaken under this task will focus on the international law relating to shipping in the Arctic, which is rapidly developing due to the receding and thinning Arctic sea-ice. It will first of all build on and complement the research covered by the project ‘Arctic shipping through challenging waters’ funded by the Research Council of Norway.

More information.

Task 2: Evolving International Law on Navigation

The international law on navigation is in a constant state of flux, in particular due to the significant expansion of the mandate and practice of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The research carried out under this Task examines this evolution among other things in the context of the role accorded to IMO under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Task 3: Norwegian Implementation of IMO and EU Instruments

As a member state of IMO and the European Economic Area (EEA), Norway is required to implement new and amended IMO instruments as well as new and amended maritime instruments of the European Union (EU). This task is aimed at identifying implementation challenges and the solutions adopted by Norway to address these. 

Task 4: Maritime security and enforcement at sea

Piracy, transnational organized crime (e.g. drugs trafficking and illegal fishing) and international terrorism continue to threaten the exercise of legitimate maritime activities and undermine national and international regulatory efforts as well as regional peace and stability.

 

More information on WP III: Navigation

 

Participating researchers:

Professor Erik J. Molenaar

Professor Tore Henriksen

Associate Professor Magne Frostad

Research Fellow Dorottya Bognar

Research Fellow Jan Solski

Research Fellow Iva Parlov