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The Law of the Sea and the MV Tampa incident

The Law of the Sea and the MV Tampa incident. Location, Location, Location ! Associate Professor Donald R. Rothwell Faculty of Law, University of Sydney. Key Issues. Conduct and Responsibility for the Maritime Search and Rescue operation

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The Law of the Sea and the MV Tampa incident

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  1. The Law of the Sea and the MV Tampa incident Location, Location, Location ! Associate Professor Donald R. Rothwell Faculty of Law, University of Sydney

  2. Key Issues • Conduct and Responsibility for the Maritime Search and Rescue operation • Australia’s closure of its Territorial Sea to the Tampa • Tampa’s entry into the Christmas Island territorial sea in distress • Boarding of the Tampa by SAS

  3. Law of the Sea • Development of the Law of the Sea • 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) • Australia, Indonesia and Norway all parties • Recognition of Maritime Zones • Territorial Sea • Contiguous Zone • EEZ • High Seas

  4. Search and Rescue Operation • 1979 International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue • Coordinates SAR operations • Role of the Coastal State • Australian/Indonesian SAR Zone • SAR ship obligations: LOS Art 98 • To rescue persons in distress • Responsibility for the Rescuees • Flag State/Coordinating State/Coastal State?

  5. Closure of Australia’s Territorial Sea • Right of a Coastal State to close its Territorial Sea • LOS Convention: Art 25 (3) • The Coastal State may, without discrimination in form or in fact among foreign ships, suspend temporarily in specified areas of its territorial sea the innocent passage of foreign ships if such suspension is essential for the protection of its security…

  6. Closure of Australia’s Territorial Sea • Australia’s port closure for Tampa • Any justifiable grounds? • Vessel not engaging in innocent passage • Conformity with Article 25 (3) • Specific closure for a single ship • Essential for the protection of security? • Tampa has engaged in humanitarian SAR operation

  7. The Tampa in Distress • Who determines a vessel is in distress? • Can such a claim be legitimised? • Rights of vessels in distress • Customary international law • LOS Convention: Art 18 (2) • Was the Tampa in distress? • Excessive passenger load following SAR • Health and sanitary conditions

  8. SAS Boarding of Tampa

  9. SAS Boarding of Tampa • Was the Tampa engaging in Innocent Passage? • The meaning of Innocent Passage: LOS Art 18, 19 • Passage which is not innocent • Art 19 (2) (g): “the … unloading of any …person contrary to the … immigration law and regulations of the coastal State” • Status of the Tampa in distress

  10. SAS Boarding of Tampa • Rights of protection of the coastal State • LOS Convention: Art 25 “ The coastal State may take the necessary steps in its territorial sea to prevent passage which is not innocent” • Legitimacy of the use of military force • Which right prevails?

  11. The Law of the Sea Balance Sheet • Tampa conformed with its international obligations • Australia’s basis for closing its territorial sea doubtful • Australia’s failure to adequately respond to a ship in distress • SAS Boarding of Tampa an excessive use of force • Australia’s image as a good international citizen

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