Press Release

LYMINGTON, United Kingdom—In their inaugural workshop, the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) held a joint seminar: “Submarine Cables and Deep Seabed Mining—Advancing Common Interest and Addressing UNCLOS ‘Due Regard’ Obligations” from 10-11 March 2015 in the New York offices of Douglas Burnett, ICPC’s International Cable Legal Advisor.

The focus of the initial meeting was to exchange information between the ISA and ICPC in relation to the practical facets of fulfilling the ‘due regard’ provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as they correlate to subsea cable and mining activities. The two day workshop included five representatives from ICPC, mining experts, legal counsel and government organisations. On behalf of ISA, speakers included: Michael Lodge, Deputy to the Secretary-General and Legal Counsel, Gwenaëlle Le Gurun, Legal Officer, and Sandor Mulsow, Head, Office of Resource and Environmental Monitoring.

Neil Rondorf, ICPC Chairman stated: “We are pleased to have connected members of ISA and ICPC to learn more about one another and to have shared important information that benefit both organisations in regards to building a relationship between seabed users in the subsea mining and subsea cable sectors.”

ISA’s Deputy to the Secretary-General and Legal Counsel, Michael Lodge acknowledged, “The inaugural and joint workshop was an excellent starting point to help foster the collaboration between the ISA and ICPC that originated from our bilateral MoU. We look forward to future conversations.”

The joint workshop was an excellent springboard for forthcoming meetings and discussions will continue to take place regarding subsea mining operations and undersea cable development.

About ICPC:

The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) was formed in 1958 and its primary goal is to promote the safeguarding of international submarine cables against man-made and natural hazards. The organisation provides a forum for the exchange of technical, legal and environmental information about submarine cables and, with 145 members from over 60 nations, including cable operators, owners, manufacturers, industry service providers, as well as governments, it is the World’s premier submarine cable organisation. For further information about ICPC and its upcoming Plenary in Hong Kong visit: www.iscpc.org or send an e-mail to: [email protected].

About ISA:

The International Seabed Authority is an autonomous international organization established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Authority is the organization through which States Parties to the Convention shall, in accordance with the regime for the seabed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof beyond the limits of national jurisdiction (the Area) established in Part XI and the Agreement, organize and control activities in the Area, particularly with a view to administering the resources of the Area. More information about the ISA is available at http://www.isa.org.jm/.

Contact: Keith Schofield, +44 7836 249376

Enquiries: [email protected]