Kingston, Jamaica, 2 July 2024 — The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) would like to inform all ISA Members and observers, as well as all other relevant stakeholders, that the operations of the Secretariat may be impaired for the next 48 to 72 hours due to the approach of Hurricane Beryl, which is expected to make landfall on 3 July 2024 in Jamaica.
The Secretariat is closely monitoring Hurricane Beryl’s progress and will make informed decisions based on the latest meteorological data and advice from local authorities. All safety and security services will be ensured in coordination with national authorities to ensure the safety of the members of the Legal and Technical Commission currently in Jamaica, as well as ISA personnel. A comprehensive safety assessment will also be conducted before resuming normal operations.
Additionally, due to the impact of Hurricane Beryl, we regret to inform that DeepData, our marine scientific research database, may be inaccessible until further notice. We are working to ensure the safety and integrity of our data systems and will restore access as soon as it is feasible to do so.
Updates will be provided through official ISA communication channels. For the latest information on the status of ISA operations and DeepData accessibility, please visit our official website.
About ISA
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous intergovernmental organization mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to manage the mineral resources of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for the shared benefit of humankind. ISA is committed to the principle that all economic activities in the deep seabed, including deep-seabed mining, must be regulated and responsibly managed using the best available scientific evidence for the benefit of all nations of the world. ISA works to ensure that the voices of all States, including developing States and other stakeholders, are effectively heard in discussions around the sustainable development of the deep seabed.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr. Philip Janikowski, Communications Specialist, ISA, pjanikowski@isa.org.jm
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For more information, visit our website, www.isa.org.jm, or follow us on Twitter @ISBAHQ.