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 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 beyond national jurisdiction when it convenes for its annual session in Kingston from 14 to 25 July 2014.

The International Seabed Authority and the Government of the Republic of Korea have signed a 15-year contract for exploration for polymetallic sulphides.‎

The ISA today launched its free mobile application for mobile devices using iOS and Android platforms. Android users can download the App from Google Play and iOS users can download the App from iTunes.

Conference Room Papers CRP1 and CRP2 have been prepared by the Secretariat to facilitate the forthcoming election of one-half of the members of the Council for the period 2015 to 2018.

The International Seabed Authority is calling for nominations for three short-term training opportunities in 2015 for suitable candidates from developing States provided by JOGMEC.

​On 7 April 2014, a group of 8 young Saudi Arabian Government Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi Royal Court paid a field visit to the headquarters of the International Seabed Authority. The visit was part of a training programme in public international law offered by the Ministry and organized by the London-based public international law firm Volterra Fietta. Staff members of the secretariat gave lectures and presentations on the work of the Authority and the resources of the Area. This is the second visit of this type by the delegation from Saudi Arabia to the Authority; the first took place in 2012.