Developments in Port State Jurisdiction

1
Developments in Port State Jurisdiction

• Dr. Erik Jaap Molenaar
• Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea
  (NILOS)

2
Structure of Presentation

• Introduction
• Port State Jurisdiction under General
  International Law
• Broadening Scope
• Broadening Rights
• Towards Mandatory Port State Jurisdiction and
  Global Coverage
• Conclusions

3
Introduction

• Static standards and behavior
• Own maritime zones, those of other coastal States
  and high seas
• Legislation and enforcement
• Facultative or mandatory link with ports of
  convenience

4
Port State Jurisdiction under General
International Law

• Wide discretion based on territorial sovereignty
  (Art. 25(2) of the LOS Convention)
• No right of access under cust. int. law
• Behavior beyond own maritime zones
• Restrictions under gen. int. law
• Abuse of rights
• International trade law (Swordfish case)

5
Broadening Scope

• Immigration, sanitation, customs and national
  security
• Maritime safety and marine environmental
  protection through CDEM standards (IMO)
• Living and working conditions (ILO)
• Human element (ISM Code)
• Maritime security (ISPS Code)
• Fisheries (biodiversity?)

6
Broadening Rights

• Art. 218 of the LOS Convention
• Art. 23 of the Fish Stocks Agreement
• Legislative jurisdiction
• Reconfirmation of residual port State
  jurisdiction
• Departure port State jurisdiction
• Swordfish case (extra-territorial jurisd.)
• VMS data
• False statements in port

7
Broadening Rights cont.

• Enforcement jurisdiction
• Punitive/corrective action for behavior beyond
  port States maritime zones
• United States Lacey Act
• False statements
• Flag State consent
• Stateless vessels

8
Towards Mandatory Port State Jurisdiction and
Global Coverage

• Facultative under LOS Convention
• Regional merchant shipping MOUs
• Both right and duty under Fish Stocks Agreement
• Implemented through RFMOs
• 2005 FAO Port State Model Scheme

9
Conclusions

• Rapidly expanding scope
• Slow expansion of rights
• Gradually moving towards mandatory port State
  jurisdiction with global coverage
• Wider recognition of the responsible port State