MPA and NUS to conduct joint research in ocean governance
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Centre for International Law (CIL) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) will jointly set up a research programme to to examine issues such as international regulation of shipping, access and use of oceans and protection of coastal marine environment.
CIL received a three-year research grant of SGD1.56m ($1.16m) from the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) supported by MPA to establish the CIL-MPA Oceans Governance Research Programme.
The grant agreement was signed between NUS and SMI at the sidelines of the annual Singapore Maritime Week 2016.
Research activities under the programme will focus on three areas: Arctic shipping governance; transit passage regimes under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and marine environmental governance.
The research will also delve into analysis of the development of a new international agreement to govern the sustainable use and conservation of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
“As a major flag state and port state and an active member of the International Maritime Organisation, Singapore has an interest in ensuring that the international legal regime governing international shipping ensures the safety of navigation, addresses threats to maritime security, and minimises the risk of ship-source pollution,” said professor Robert Beckman, director of CIL.
Andrew Tan, chief executive of MPA, said: “As a leading global hub port and one of the world’s largest ship registries, Singapore can contribute to better understanding of maritime law, ocean governance and emerging issues such as Arctic shipping that impact on the international maritime community.”
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