Committee holds session with Royal Navy Commander and Foreign Office official UNCLOS
The House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee will take evidence from a Royal Navy Commander and an officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on maritime law and security, and emerging technologies.
The Committee will ask questions on the UK’s role in global maritime security, enforcing current international law and tackling the threats posed by emerging technologies such an unmanned maritime vehicles.
Meeting details
At 10:00am: Oral evidence
Inquiry
UNCLOS: fit for purpose in the 21st century?
Lead Legal Advisor - International Law at Royal Navy
At 11:00am: Oral evidence
Inquiry
UNCLOS: fit for purpose in the 21st century?
Legal Advisor, Oceans Policy Unit at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
At 12:00pm: Private discussion
Inquiry
UNCLOS: fit for purpose in the 21st century?
Possible questions:
- How does the Royal Navy enforce the international law of the sea (includingnavigational freedoms) and prevent threats to maritime security? Does the current law of the sea adequately address new and emerging threats?
- How well does the existing international law of the sea regulate unmanned maritime systems and operations using them? What are the main legal and practical challenges posed by maritime autonomous vehicles to maritime security? How is the Royal Navy equipped to address these challenges? Does UNCLOS help or hinder this?
- What is the UK’s position on the definition, rights of, and jurisdiction over, unmanned maritime systems? Does this differ if these systems are used in a naval or civilian context? Do states approach the regulation and definition of unmanned maritime systems differently?
- What are the challenges to the effective implementation of human rights at sea?
- What are the challenges posed by ships that are ‘flagless’? What is the UK policy (both legal and practical) towards ‘flagless’ ships?
- What role does the United Kingdom play in global maritime security and enforcement of the existing international law? What are the Government’s priorities in this area?