Law of the Sea - Historical Development and Contemporary Issues
Capt John Mansell
Thursday, 20 April 2023 7:00pm
Wairarapa
Rosewood, 417 Queen Street, Masterton
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC), adopted in 1982, will be addressed by Capt. John Mansell at our meeting on Thursday, 20 April.
It came about because of centuries of gradual and hesitant development of a suitable regime for effective and peaceful governance of the world’s seas and waterways and all activities on or under them. The course of this long gestation, John says, is recalled from the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 to the present day, including the concept of “freedom of the seas”, territorial claims, codification of customary law, international maritime organisations, maritime zones, innocent passage, prevention of marine pollution, and maritime safety conventions.
Particular reference is made to relevance of the LOSC to contemporary territorial claims in the South China Sea, subsequent implications for the rule of law and international cooperation, and the role of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
John will introduce the complementary High Seas Treaty 2023, its considerable benefits and possible conflicts with the LOSC.
About the speaker:
Capt. John Mansell was a Master Mariner and Fellow of the Nautical Institute. His seafaring career spanned 35 years, including 13 years of worldwide service aboard general and refrigerated cargo ships, followed by 22 years with the Cook Strait ferries, being in command for 20 years, 1974-1994.
He was General Manager of Maritime Operations, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ), from 1994 to 2009. Principal Maritime Adviser to MNZ from 2009 to 2014 as the architect of an updated suite of qualifications for all New Zealand commercial ships.
At the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), London, John represented New Zealand from 1994 until 2009 - as an IMO expert on flag, port and coastal State matters, and an IMO auditor and Lead IMO consultant for a number of training courses in the Pacific region. He was a member of the New Zealand delegation to the International Labour Organisation's diplomatic conference in Geneva for adoption of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006. He was New Zealand's representative on an Asia/Pacific-wide port State control body from 1995 until 2009, including a three-meeting term as chairman.
On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, John advised the Tongan and Rarotongan Governments on the effective implementation of mandatory IMO instruments.
John was awarded a Master of Maritime Studies degree (Distinction) in 2004 and Doctorate in international maritime law in 2007. He was the first New Zealand Master Mariner granted the status of Chartered Master Mariner (CMMar).
Tea and Coffee from 7:00pm AGM 7:30pm Guest Speaker 8:00pm
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC), adopted in 1982, will be addressed by Capt. John Mansell at our meeting on Thursday, 20 April.
It came about because of centuries of gradual and hesitant development of a suitable regime for effective and peaceful governance of the world’s seas and waterways and all activities on or under them. The course of this long gestation, John says, is recalled from the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 to the present day, including the concept of “freedom of the seas”, territorial claims, codification of customary law, international maritime organisations, maritime zones, innocent passage, prevention of marine pollution, and maritime safety conventions.
Particular reference is made to relevance of the LOSC to contemporary territorial claims in the South China Sea, subsequent implications for the rule of law and international cooperation, and the role of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
John will introduce the complementary High Seas Treaty 2023, its considerable benefits and possible conflicts with the LOSC.
About the speaker:
Capt. John Mansell was a Master Mariner and Fellow of the Nautical Institute. His seafaring career spanned 35 years, including 13 years of worldwide service aboard general and refrigerated cargo ships, followed by 22 years with the Cook Strait ferries, being in command for 20 years, 1974-1994.
He was General Manager of Maritime Operations, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ), from 1994 to 2009. Principal Maritime Adviser to MNZ from 2009 to 2014 as the architect of an updated suite of qualifications for all New Zealand commercial ships.
At the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), London, John represented New Zealand from 1994 until 2009 - as an IMO expert on flag, port and coastal State matters, and an IMO auditor and Lead IMO consultant for a number of training courses in the Pacific region. He was a member of the New Zealand delegation to the International Labour Organisation's diplomatic conference in Geneva for adoption of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006. He was New Zealand's representative on an Asia/Pacific-wide port State control body from 1995 until 2009, including a three-meeting term as chairman.
On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, John advised the Tongan and Rarotongan Governments on the effective implementation of mandatory IMO instruments.
John was awarded a Master of Maritime Studies degree (Distinction) in 2004 and Doctorate in international maritime law in 2007. He was the first New Zealand Master Mariner granted the status of Chartered Master Mariner (CMMar).
Tea and Coffee from 7:00pm AGM 7:30pm Guest Speaker 8:00pm
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