The Role of Bathymetry in International Maritime Law and in

the Provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Neil Guy

The Science of Measuring Depths (usually in the Ocean) to Determine Bottom Topography

Bowditch

What is Bathymetry

Content

• Data Acquisition• Data Processing• Compliance with Standards• Relationship to Datum• Depiction, Format and Metadata• Distribution and Maintenance• Examples• Responsibilities Legal or Otherwise• Conclusion

Acquisition and Processing

• Historical DataAcceptance - Quality Assurance?National and International Responsibility

• New DataMethods of Survey - Latest Affordable?Data Processing and Maintenance

• Duty of Care

Compliance with Standards

• International or National

EquipmentPersonnelMethodologyProducts

Relationship to Datum

• Local

• Regional

• WGS 84 (GPS?)

Depiction, Format and Metadata• User Requirements for Depiction and Format

MarinerPaper Charts and PublicationsElectronic Products

UNCLOS Baselines - Normal and StraightFoot of the SlopeResources - Exploration and Exploitation

• Metadata

Distribution and Maintenance• Mariner

Latest Information Widest DistributionSafest Means

IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION, CONFIRM IT AND PASS IT.

Examples• Surveying

Old SurveysEarly SwatheModern Equipment

• UsageChartingUNCLOS

GLORIA

UNCLOS

Foot of the Slope

Responsibilities• Complying with Internationally Accepted

StandardsDuty of CareLiability in Delict or Tort

• Ensuring National InterestsMaximising ClaimsProviding Data for Resources Exploitation

The Hydrographers Nightmare

Conclusions

Accurate bathymetry is essential to the production of nautical charts and

publications and the legal responsibilities related to this service

and accurate bathymetry is essential to the substantiation of the UNCLOS

claims of a coastal State to maritime territory and marine resources.

THANK YOU

The Role of Bathymetry in International Maritime Law and in the Provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.�What is BathymetryContentAcquisition and ProcessingCompliance with StandardsRelationship to DatumDepiction, Format and MetadataDistribution and MaintenanceExamplesSlide Number 10Slide Number 11GLORIAUNCLOSFoot of the SlopeResponsibilitiesThe Hydrographers NightmareConclusionsTHANK YOU