Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE LAS1088

 
TITLE Understanding Maritime Boundary Disputes: Law and Geography of Maritime Delimitation

 
UM LEVEL I - Introductory Level

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Centre for the Liberal Arts and Sciences

 
DESCRIPTION We will explore a much-discussed complex and a politically charged area in international law. Like their terrestrial counterparts, maritime boundaries have an important function in that they delimit the extent of a coastal State’s rights and obligations. The advances in technology during the mid-20th century improved significantly access to offshore living and non-living marine resources particularly hydrocarbons. However, in a number of cases, a number of coastal States are unable to exploit offshore resources as their maritime boundaries are either not delimited or contested by neighbouring States. It is claimed that over 60% of these still remain to be defined.

The unit will look into that part of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which governs the determination of maritime boundaries. Additionally, it will look into the possibilities to resolve disputes through the peaceful settlement procedures incorporated in the Convention. The overview will also bring to the fore the importance that various areas of studies may have a role in the establishment of maritime boundaries. Finally, students following this unit will also familiarise themselves with current issues concerning (i) unsettled maritime boundaries in a number of flashpoints in various regions including the Mediterranean and (ii) the impact of sea level rise on the stability of maritime boundaries.

This is an area of study which attracts the interest of jurists, historians, geographers, economists and other experts. Therefore, the unit is suitable to policy makers, diplomats, journalists, international relations analysts and students undertaking research in international law and geography.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the unit the student will be able to:

- describe how, despite globalisation, boundaries remain important;
- explain the intricate procedure leading to the demarcation of maritime boundaries;
- recognise the situations when peaceful settlement procedures are triggered to resolve maritime boundary disputes;
- show how maritime delimitation may require the collaboration of professionals from various disciplines;
- appraise current issues relating to maritime boundary delimitation disputes.

2. Skills
By the end of the unit the student will be able to:

- identify the relevant law concerning the determination of maritime boundaries;
- interpret the complex provisions establishing the baseline;
- recognise the various issues the peaceful settlement procedures may examine to resolve disputes;
- evaluate disputes between States which concern maritime delimitation;
- describe the consequences of the impact of sea level rise on maritime boundaries.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Students will be guided which sections of the texts below they would be required to read. Lecturer may provide additional literature.

Main Texts

- Robin Churchill, Vaughan Lowe and Amy Sander, The Law of the Sea, Manchester University Press, 4th Edition
- David Attard, Edited by Malgosia Fitzmaurice, and Norman A. Martinez Gutierrez, The IMLI Manual on International Maritime Law: Vol 1 The Law of the Sea, Oxford University Press, 2014.

United Nations Convention

- 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Report 100%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit