Dispute settlement in the law of the sea: Survey for 2019

This is the latest in a series of annual surveys in this Journal reviewing dispute settlement in the law of the sea, both under Part XV of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and outside the framework of the Convention. It covers developments during 2019. The most significant developments concerned the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). It delivered its judgment in the M/V Norstar (Panama v. Italy) case (concerning bunkering on the high seas and the scope of non-flag State prescriptive jurisdiction over vessels); made two provisional orders – in the Detention of Three Ukrainian Naval Vessels (Ukraine v. Russia) and San Padre Pio (Switzerland v. Nigeria) cases, both concerned with the alleged unlawful seizure and detention of ships; and was seized of two new cases. In addition, an arbitral tribunal made an award of reparation in the Duzgit Integrity (Malta v. São Tomé and Príncipe) case.