The challenge of managing the increasing work load of the Authority as it moves towards elaborating exploitation regulations and the need for standardized data on the living resources of the seabed Area were highlighted by Secretary General, Nii Allotey Odunton (Ghana). Presenting the report contained in document ISBA/20/A/2, the Secretary-General noted that with seven new… Continue reading Seabed Authority’s Assembly Begins Two Day Discussion of Annual Report of the Secretary-General

The Council of the International Seabed Authority, meeting in Kingston this morning, adopted a twelve-paragraph decision on the summary report of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission which was presented at its 17 July meeting. Revised from a 32-paragraph document submitted by Brazil on the basis of comments and contributions by members of… Continue reading Seabed Council Adopts Decision on Report of Legal and Technical Commisison; Concludes Work at Authority’s Twentieth Session

The Assembly of the International Seabed Authority yesterday (22 July) held a day-long special session to commemorate the organisation’s twentieth anniversary with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, noting in a message, that the ongoing development by the Authority of a comprehensive set of rules governing seabed mining would go a long way towards helping States… Continue reading International Seabed Authority Marks Twentieth Anniversary

Seven new applications for approval of plans of work for exploration in the international Seabed Area were approved this morning by the Council of the International Seabed Authority as it nears conclusion of its work of the twentieth session in Kingston. Also this morning, the Council took note of the report of the Secretary-General, Nii … Continue reading Seabed Council Approves Seven Plans of Work; Brazil Submits Proposal on Extension of Exploratory Contracts

The Council of the International Seabed Authority, at two meetings in Kingston on Friday 18 July, examined procedures for possible extension of exploration contracts and mechanisms for the formulation of regulations for exploitation in the Area, as it continued deliberations on the summary report of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) on… Continue reading Seabed Council Discusses LTC Report; Gets Explanatory Note; Adopts Amendments to Two Regulations

The Council of the International Seabed Authority meeting in Kingston on Thursday (17 July 2014) afternoon decided, on the recommendations of the Finance Committee, that the Assembly approve a budget for the Authority in the amount of US$ 15,743,143 for the biennium 2015-2016. The Council by its decision (ISBA/20/C/L.2) also recommended that the Assembly authorize… Continue reading Seabed Council Adopts Draft Decision on Financial and Budgetary Matters; Hears Report of Legal and Technical Commission

The Council of the International Seabed Authority, meeting in Kingston this afternoon, took note of two reports of the Secretary-General at its second meeting of this historic 20th Session in Kingston this afternoon. One report addresses the status of prospecting and contract for exploration for three types of mineral resources in the seabed Area, and… Continue reading Seabed Council Dicusses Reports on Prospecting and Contracts for Exploration of Minerals

The International Seabed Authority, celebrating twenty years in existence, began its annual session this morning at Kingston, with its two major organs – the Assembly and the Council – electing their presidents and approving their indicative work programme for the next ten days. The Assembly also elected three vice-presidents, a member to the Authority’s Finance… Continue reading ISA Opens Historic 20th Session in Kingston; Elects President and Adopts Agenda

Agenda Items Includes Election of Nearly Half its Executive Council, Drafting of Marine Minerals Mining Code and Consideration of Applications for Seabed Exploration Contracts The Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority will commemorate its twentieth anniversary, elect nearly half its executive Council and begin elaboration of a mining code for deep seabed polymetallic nodules in the Area… Continue reading ISA to Observe Twentieth Anniversary at Annual Session (Kingston 14-25 July 2014)