Calendar of Events 2016

Mr Antonio Cachapuz de Medeiros was elected today at a Special Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in New York. The meeting was held to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Vicente Marotta Rangel (Brazil) on 18 May 2015. In accordance with article 6 of the Statute of the Tribunal, Mr Cachapuz de Medeiros will hold office for the remainder of his predecessor's nine-year term, which expires on 30 September 2017.

At a public ceremony held on 7 March 2016, Mr Antonio Cachapuz de Medeiros (Brazil) was sworn in as a member of the Tribunal. Before taking up his duties, every judge is required to make a solemn declaration at a public sitting that he will exercise his powers impartially and conscientiously. Judge Cachapuz de Medeiros made the declaration today in the presence of the Tribunal.

Mr Philippe Gautier was re-elected Registrar today by the judges of the Tribunal.

On 11 March 2016, Italy filed preliminary objections to the jurisdiction of the Tribunal and the admissibility of Panama’s application in The M/V “Norstar” Case (Panama v. Italy). Proceedings in the case had been instituted by Panama against Italy by

an application filed with the Tribunal on 17 December 2015.

On 20 June 2016, the President of the Tribunal, Judge Vladimir Golitsyn, addressed the 26th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and presented the Tribunal's annual report for 2015. 

The President of the Tribunal chaired a round table on the raie of the Tribunal in the settlement of law of the sea disputes at the Meeting of States Parties on 23 June 2016 to mark the upcoming twentieth anniversary of the Tribunal.

Speakers at the round table were Vice-President Bouguetaia, Judges Akl, Wolfrum, Jesus and Heidar, and the Registrar, Mr Gautier.

The Tribunal celebrated its 20th anniversary with an official ceremony in the City Hall of Hamburg with the participation of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The Judgment of the Tribunal on the Preliminary Objections raised by Italy on 11 March 2016 in The M/V “Norstar” Case (Panama v. Italy) was delivered today. The Tribunal finds that it has jurisdiction to adjudicate the dispute and decides that Panama’s application is admissible.

Judge Vladimir Golitsyn, President of the Tribunal, gave his annual statement before the General Assembly of the United Nations on Wednesday, 7 December 2016, during the General Assembly's debate on the item "Oceans and the law of the sea".