Costs

The costs of the Tribunal, including sums to be paid to witnesses and experts who appear at the instance of the Tribunal and persons appointed by the Tribunal to carry out an inquiry are, where appropriate, paid out of the funds of the Tribunal (Rules, article 83). When an entity other than a State Party or the International Seabed Authority is a party to a dispute submitted to it, the Tribunal fixes the amount which that party is to contribute towards the expenses of the Tribunal (Statute, article 19, para. 2).

International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea Trust Fund

A voluntary trust fund for the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea was established in 2000 by the General Assembly of the United Nations and is managed by the United Nations Secretary-General. The purpose of the fund is to provide States Parties to the Convention with financial assistance for expenses associated with cases which have already been submitted or which might be submitted to the Tribunal, including to the Seabed Disputes Chamber or any other chamber.

The terms of reference of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea Trust Fund are annexed to General Assembly Resolution 55/7 of 30 October 2000 (Annex I).

Further information about the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea Trust Fund may be found on the website of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea.