The Assembly of the International Seabed Authority concluded its 18th Session after approving the Regulations on cobalt-rich crusts, electing Mr. Nii Odunton as Secretary-General for a second four-year term and adopting the budget and a scale of assessment for the 2013-14 financial period.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 24 July 2012 – – Thirty years ago, in Montego Bay, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) opened for signature. Today, in Kingston, the Assembly of the International  Seabed Authority met in a special session to commemorate that milestone event, and pay tribute to those who worked for the successful adoption of UNCLOS.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 23 July 2012 – – The workload of the International Seabed Authority is set to increase dramatically with the approval, by its Council in Kingston this afternoon, of five new plans of work for exploration of marine minerals in the deep oceans.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 17 July 2012 – – The Council of the International Seabed Authority, meeting in Kingston, considered a report prepared by the Secretary-General on the status of national legislation relating to the sponsorship, and conduct of activities in the Area.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 17 July 2012 – – The International Seabed Authority began its eighteenth session in Kingston with an extensive agenda that includes finalization of a regime for prospecting and exploration for  cobalt-rich crusts in the deep seabed Area, elections to fill vacancies in the Council, and the election of the Secretary-General.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 13 July 2012 – – The adoption of draft Regulations on prospecting and exploration for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts; consideration of five new applications for approval of plans of work for exploration and election of 20 members of Council and of the Secretary-General are among substantive issues for consideration on the agenda of the International Seabed Authority when it convenes its 18th Session in Kingston, Jamaica from 16-27 July 2012.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 10 July 2012 – -The Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) will today begin to hear oral presentations by the five new applicants for seabed exploration.

Secretary-General Nii Odunton was one of two keynote speakers at the Symposium on Deep Seabed Mining – A Challenging Technological & Resource Potential for the German Economy held on 19 June at the Ministry of Federal Economics in Berlin.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 21 June 2012 – – The InterRidge/ISA Endowment Fund Fellowship Programme recently awarded fellowships to three students from developing countries.