From the âConstitution of the Maritime Safety Committeeâ to the ... - IMO

More documents

Recommendations

Info

56 TEXAS INTERNATIONAL LAW JOURNAL [VOL. 43:55 (“ICJ” or “the Court”). The Court, in an advisory opinion, stated that without the two countries, the MSC was not properly constituted. Following internal and external developments the Constitution was amended, the Organization’s name changed to IMO in 1982 and power transferred from the MSC to the Council. The Council expanded gradually from the 1960s, notably in 1993, to allow for wider “geographical representation” and for fuller participation by the developing maritime nations (“DMNs”). 2 However, at its 24th Session in November 2005, the Assembly election results for Council did not appear to follow either the letter or the spirit of the amendments. This has caused widespread concern, especially among the DMN Member States who have consistently advocated for either urgent reforms of electoral process or a return to the ICJ for another Advisory Opinion. Unless the issue is resolved soon, it is likely to undermine the Organization’s credibility and activities for the foreseeable future. This paper assesses whether there will be an internal compromise and solution this time around or whether history will repeat itself at the IMO with a return to the ICJ. This article analyzes the history of the problem and possible scenarios in the event of a return to the ICJ against the background of the 1960 ICJ Advisory Opinion; the IMO Constitutional Amendments, especially the Amendment of 1993; constitutional experiences of the United Nations and comparable international organizations; international law and practices; and the IMO 24th Assembly elections to the Council in 2005. SUMMARY I. INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................58 A. Aims and Objectives......................................................................................59 B. Methodology and Approach ........................................................................59 II. CONTEXTUAL HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE .................................................................60 A. Development and Creation of IMCO..........................................................60 B. The Principal Organs of IMCO...................................................................61 C. The Constitution and Function of the Maritime Safety Committee: Article 28(a) ...................................................................................................62 D. The 1st Assembly Elections to the Maritime Safety Committee, November 1959..............................................................................................63 E. Referral of the Dispute to the International Court of Justice, 1959...........64 III. ISSUES BEFORE, AND THE ADVISORY OPINION OF, THE ICJ ...........................66 A. Preliminary Issues .........................................................................................66 1. Meaning of “Elected” ............................................................................66 2. Election to the Committee: “Mandatory” or “Discretionary”? ......67 3. What Constituted an “Important Interest in Maritime Safety”........68 4. Meaning of “Ship-Owning Nations” ....................................................69 5. “Registered Tonnage” Criterion ..........................................................71 2. Id.
2007] THE CONSTITUTION: FROM THE MSC TO THE COUNCIL 57 i. National vs. Beneficially-Owned Tonnage...................................71 ii. The International Law Doctrine of “Effectiveness”...................73 iii. Comparisons with IMCO’s own Convention and Internal Practice .............................................................................................74 iv. Comparison with International Instruments and Practices........76 v. Comparisons between the Law of the Sea Conventions and International Judicial Practices......................................................78 vi. Comparable Experiences of the ICAO Council..........................78 3. Benefits of the Background and Brief History of the IMCO Provision..................................................................................................79 4. “Apportionment of Expenses” Criterion ............................................81 C. Whether Nationality of Ships, Open Registry, and “Genuine Link” Were Relevant Factors ..................................................................................82 1. Flags of Convenience or Open Registries ...........................................82 2. Nationality of Ships in International Law ...........................................83 3. Relevance of the “Genuine Link” Issue as a Consideration.............85 4. Analogy with Textual Practice in Other International Organizations..........................................................................................88 IV. CONSTITUTION OF THE IMO COUNCIL: DEVELOPMENTS AND POTENTIAL PROBLEMS.........................................................................................90 A. Article 17: Constitution and Functions of the Council..............................90 B. First Enlargement of the Council: The 1960s Amendments to the Convention.....................................................................................................91 C. Second Enlargement of the Council: The 1970s Amendments to the Convention.....................................................................................................92 D. Third Enlargement of the Council and Attempts at Wider Participation: Developments in the 1990s and the Spirit of the 1993 Amendments ..................................................................................................94 V. THE 24TH ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS TO THE COUNCIL, NOVEMBER 2005: ARTICLE 17 AND A RETURN TO THE ICJ?..........................................................96 A. The 23rd and 24th Assembly Council Elections, November 2003 and 2005.................................................................................................................96 B. Some Suggested Approaches: Alternative Dispute Resolution vs. Litigation........................................................................................................98 C. The Likely Scenario at the ICJ in the Event of a Second Referral on the “Constitution of the Council”.................................................................99 1. Formulation of the Main Question and Issues....................................99 2. Meaning of the “Largest Interest in Providing International Shipping Services”: Article 17(a).........................................................99 3. Meaning of the “Largest Interest in Seaborne Trade”: Article 17(b).......................................................................................................101 4. Meaning of “Special Interest in Maritime Transport or
Page 1: From the “Constitution of the Mar
Page 5 and 6: 2007] THE CONSTITUTION: FROM THE MS
Page 53 and 54:
2007] THE CONSTITUTION: FROM THE MS
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59:
show all

From the âConstitution of the Maritime Safety Committeeâ to the ... - IMO

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?

From the âConstitution of the Maritime Safety Committeeâ to the ... - IMO