Kingston, Jamaica, 5 July 2024 — The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is pleased to announce that it is resuming its operations following the passing of Hurricane Beryl.
DeepData, the ISA’s marine scientific research database, and all other information and communications technology services will be fully operational from 9:00 A.M. today.
All ISA personnel are expected to be able to resume their standard work schedules, either on-site or through remote working arrangements. ISA assures its stakeholders that any pending matters or communications delayed due to the temporary suspension of services will be addressed with utmost priority.
Reflecting on the damaging impacts caused by Hurricane Beryl in many Caribbean States, including Jamaica, the ISA Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, expressed support and condolences. “I am deeply saddened by the devastating impacts caused by Hurricane Beryl across the Caribbean. On behalf of all of the staff of the Secretariat, I wish to express our solidarity with the people of Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, especially those whose livelihoods and property have been severely affected.”
“On behalf of ISA, I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to the Government of Jamaica and the local authorities for their efforts in ensuring the safety and security of all our personnel, particularly the experts of the Legal and Technical Commission currently in Kingston.”
Secretary-General Lodge also expressed his profound gratitude to all staff members, stakeholders and the public for their patience, understanding and cooperation during the recent disruption caused by Hurricane Beryl.
“The successful implementation of our contingency measures has ensured the safety of our personnel and the integrity of our critical systems. I am particularly grateful to all of those in the Secretariat who have worked tirelessly to make this happen and keep our families safe,” he added.
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