The Legal Regulation of Floats and Gliders—In Quest of a New Regime?

Authors: Bork, Katharina¹; Karstensen, Johannes²; Visbeck, Martin²; Zimmermann, Andreas¹

Source: Ocean Development and International Law, Volume 39, Number 3, July 2008 , pp. 298-328(31)

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Abstract:

This article analyzes the legal status of unmanned instruments (particularly, floats and gliders) for observation purposes in the ocean environment. These new kinds of instruments are being deployed by the thousands into the oceans, not the least as part of the Argo Project of the International Oceanographic Commission. Their uncontrolled drifting has raised legal questions, especially when such instruments enter waters subject to the jurisdiction of foreign states. The authors argue that the current international legal framework is insufficient to address the pertinent issues, and that a new legal regime is needed.

Keywords: Argo Project; floats; marine scientific research; scientific instruments

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00908320802235338

Affiliations: 1: Walther-Schucking-Institute for International Law, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany 2: Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany

Publication date: 2008-07-01