Proceedings Of The Marine

SUM 2013

Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.

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The Convention Helps Secure Trade AnotherkeymissionoftheCoastGuardistopromote safeandsecureinternationaltrade.Theconvention promotesfreedomofnavigationandoverfight,by whichinternationalshippingandtransportationfuel andsupplytheglobaleconomy.Some90percentof globaltradetonnage,totalingmorethan$6trillion invalueincludingoil,ironore,coal,grain,andother commodities,buildingmaterials,andmanufactured goods,aretransportedbyseaeveryyear.7 Currently,littleinternationaltradetravelsthrough theArctic,butthisischangingandwillcontinueto increase in the decades ahead as the ice cover continuestorecedeandmarinetransportationtechnologyadvances.Moreover,thereisconsiderabledestinationalshippingevennow,suchastobringcritical suppliestotheNorthSlopeandAlaskancoastalvillages,andtoremovevastamountsofmineralsfrom thetreasuretroveintheBrooksRangeinnorthwestern Alaska. Byguaranteeingmerchantvesselstherighttonavigate through international straights, archipelagic waters,andcoastalwaters,theprovisionsoftheconventionpromotedynamicinternationaltrade.Free navigationreducescostsandeliminatesdelaysthat wouldoccurifcoastalstateswereabletoimposevariousrestrictionsonnavigationalrights. Non-Party Status Impedes International Engagement TheCoastGuardrepresentstheUnitedStatesatthe InternationalMaritimeOrganization(IMO),thespecializedbodythroughwhichinternationalstandards forshipsafety,security,andenvironmentalprotection are developed and adopted. These standards are negotiatedandimplementedundertheLawofSea Convention'sframework. Consequently,wearebecomingincreasinglychallengedinsomeofthesenegotiationsbecauseweare notapartytothatframework.Moreover,theconventionencouragesinternationalcooperationtoenhance thesafetyandsecurityofallocean-goingships.The IMOisdevelopingamandatoryPolarCodeforArctic shipping,andtheCoastGuardisplayingakeyrole in that effort.8 Furthermore,manystateshaveexcessiveclaimswith respect to baselines, historic bays, territorial seas, straits, and navigational restrictions, which many believe are not permissible under the convention. However,asanonparty,ourabilitytoseektorollback www.uscg.mil/proceedings theseexcessiveclaimsisseverelyinhibited.Failureto jointheconventionwillmateriallyinterferewithour abilitytoengagewithotherstatestoimprovemaritimegovernance majorpartoftheCoastGuard's —a currentstrategyformaritimesafety,security,and stewardship. Ournon-partystatusisanobstaclethatwemustovercomeindevelopingvirtuallyanynewmultilateral maritimeinstrument.Forexample,theUnitedStates haslongplayedakeyroleintheIMOtopromotemaritimesafetyandeffciencyandtoprotectthemarine environmentintheArctic,butourleadershipposition isunderminedbyourcurrent"outsider" tatus. s TheUnitedStateshasno"seatatthetable"inmatters concerning the convention, nor does it have a judgeontheLawoftheSeaTribunal,oradecision maker or staff expert on the Commission on the LimitsoftheContinentalShelfthatconvenestoreview and approve claims to extended continental shelves. Moreover,despitethefactthatthe1994PartXIImplementationAgreementguaranteestheUnitedStatesa permanentseatontheInternationalSeabedAuthority andaneffectivevetoonallkeydecisionsofthatbody, asanonparty,wesimplycannotplaythatcriticalrole. Withoutjoiningtheconvention,wehavenomeansto formallyrepresentoursignifcantmaritimeinterests asaglobalpower,andguidethediscussioninterpretinganddevelopingthelawoftheseaintheArctic. TheCoastGuardperformsmanycriticalhomeland securitycoastalmissions.Itneedsacomprehensive legalframeworktohelpinfuencethedevelopmentof Arcticissues,andtoputouroperationalactivitiesin protectingAmerica'sinterestsonthestrongestlegal footing,whetherwearetakingenforcementactionto ensurethatU.S.sovereignrightsarerespected,human activityissafeandsecure,rescuingthoseindistress, or protecting the pristine Arctic environment. TheCommandantoftheCoastGuardtestifedbefore theSenateForeignRelationsCommitteeinJune2012 andsaid,"Wemustcontinuetoseekoutopportunities withourArcticneighborsandtheglobalcommunity toaddressthecriticalissuesofgovernance,sovereign rights,environmentalprotection,andsecurityinthe Arctic.Whiletherearemanychallenges,theincreasinglywetArcticOceanpresentsuniqueopportunities.Theconventionprovidesthekeylegalframework weneedtotakeadvantageoftheseopportunities.The CoastGuardneedstheconventiontoensureAmeri9 ca'sArcticfuture." Summer 2013 Proceedings 55

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