News

The deadline to apply for four online training opportunity provided by China Ocean Mineral Resources R & D Association (COMRA) for candidates from developing States Members of ISA has been extended to 28 February 2022.

The placements are being offered in accordance with COMRA’s obligations under its contracts with ISA for exploration of polymetallic sulphides. Following the extended application deadline of 28 October 2021, the Legal and Technical recommended that the training opportunities be re-advertised to allow for more candidates to have an opportunity to apply.

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The Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Michael Lodge, reported on progress made by the organization since 2020 at the 48^th plenary meeting of the 76^th session of the United Nations General Assembly taking place in New York this week. The Secretary-General welcomed the support of the United Nations General Assembly to work undertaken by ISA, especially the resumption of in-person meetings under the 26^th session of the ISA Council and the Assembly.

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The second part of the 26th session of the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) opened in Kingston, Jamaica, on 6 December 2021. All 36 Council members are in attendance, either in-person or through video link. In addition, twelve delegations of observers are also following the discussions. 

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The Permanent Representative of Brazil to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Ms. Elza Moreira Marcelino de Castro, presented her credentials to the Secretary-General of ISA, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, during a ceremony held on 30 November 2021 at ISA headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.

The deadline to send proposals for the preparation of phase two standards and guidelines for activities in the Area has been extended to 10 December 2021.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is seeking a legal consultant to identify, prepare, review and revise the phase two standards and guidelines for activities in the international seabed area (the Area) and provide advice for the finalization of the Draft Regulations on Exploitation of Mineral Resources in the Area.

On 30 November 2021, the Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) launched a new report entitled The Contribution of the International Seabed Authority to the Achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. ISA Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, commissioned the report under the Strategic Plan and High-Level Action Plan of the Organization for 2019-2023, which explicitly recognize the importance of ISA to align its programmes and activities to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On 19 November 2021, the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) confirmed the selection of candidates for two undergraduate degrees provided by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) of the Government of India in accordance with its obligations under its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules with ISA. The selected candidates are:

On 18 November 2021, the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) confirmed the selection of candidates for ten online training opportunities provided by China Ocean Mineral Resources R & D Association (COMRA) in accordance with its obligations under its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules with ISA.

The selected candidates are:

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is seeking a legal consultant to identify, prepare, review and revise the phase two standards and guidelines for activities in the international seabed area (the Area) and provide advice for the finalization of the Draft Regulations on Exploitation of Mineral Resources in the Area.

The Permanent Representative of France to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Olivier Guyonvarch, presented his credentials to ISA Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, during a ceremony held on 19 November 2021 at ISA headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.

H.E. Guyonvarch is the Ambassador of France to Jamaica. He has a master’s degree in Chinese and is a career diplomat specializing in the law of the sea. Ambassador Guyonvarch has been with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1996.

The deadline to apply for one at-sea (engineering) training opportunity provided by Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) for candidates from developing States Members of ISA has been extended to 31 January 2022.

The placement is being offered in accordance with NORI’s obligations under its contracts with ISA for exploration of polymetallic nodules. Following the extended application deadline of 27 September 2021, only one placement was filled while the other was recommended for re-advertisement by the Legal and Technical Commission.

International Seabed Authority (ISA) launched three new studies describing opportunities offered by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to the least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS). The three publications were produced by ISA Secretariat in response to priority capacity-building needs identified by LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS in 2020. The launch of these three publications took place virtually on 16 November 2021.

The Permanent Representative of Panama to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Lasford Emilio Douglas, and the Permanent Representative of Chile to ISA, H.E. Ms. Constanza Figueroa, presented credentials to ISA Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, during ceremonies held on 17 November 2021 at ISA headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.

On 10 November 2021, the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) confirmed the selection of one candidate to benefit from a Master’s degree provided by Nauru Resources Inc. (NORI) in accordance with its obligations under its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules with ISA.

This training opportunity is a direct contribution of NORI to the ISA’s “Women in Deep-Sea Research” (WIDSR) Project₁ as the contractor has committed to allocate at least half of the training placements to women candidates. 

On 5 November 2021, the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) confirmed the selection of candidates for two (2) undergraduate degrees provided by Marawa Research and Exploration Ltd. in accordance with its obligations under its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules with ISA.

This training opportunity is a direct contribution of MARAWA to the ISA’s “Women in Deep-Sea Research” (WIDSR) Project₁ as the contractor has committed to allocate at least half of the training placements to women candidates.