Manila, 27 May 2022 (TDI): Australia and the Philippines have been constantly collaborating with one another in terms of boosting maritime security. The Law of the Sea Course is an example of such collaboration between the two countries.
The Law of the Sea Course mainly features the international legal rules dealing with the protection of the marine environment and its safety to protect it from adverse situations of different human uses.
The Law of the Sea Course is a key feature of the ongoing partnership between the Philippines and Australia on capacity-building, education, and professional development in maritime governance.
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Law of the Sea Course
The course focuses on the Law of the Sea and Arctic issues. The Law of the Sea is a body of customs, treaties, and international agreements by which the government maintains order, productivity, and peaceful relations on the sea.
A number of notable conventions were signed in the latter half of the 20th century to develop the Law of the Sea. The United Nations held its first conference on the Law of the Sea in 1956 which resulted in the 1958 convention.
The final conference was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in 1982 which resulted in the Law of the Sea Convention, enforced in 1994 with the required number of UN signatories.
The year 2014 is marked as the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The maritime zones are recognized under international laws. They include internal water, the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, the continental shelf, the high sea, and the area.
International Maritime Organization
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is held responsible for the security of all international shipping. IMO has the responsibility to monitor the ships following the safety procedures set by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
Australia-Philippines Ties
Australia and the Philippines celebrated their 75th year of diplomatic relations. Both countries share a long history of helping and caring for each other in times of difficulty. Australia and the Philippines have a long-standing bilateral relationship.
It has grown stronger and encircles an ever-increasing people-to-people link; development assistance towards sustainable growth, trade, and investment to expand ties. The Philippines has always shown great interest in Maritime law.
Maritime Cooperation
The Australian government through its Australian Awards and Alumni Engagements Program has supported the delivery of one week Law of the Sea Course for the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and other Philippine agencies and departments.
Under international law, Australia has rights and responsibilities in relation to its adjacent waters which are divided into maritime zones.
Both Australia and the Philippines are working on some programs to develop and strengthen Manila’s capabilities to protect its waters.
The two allies aim to expand their engagements in maritime co-operations through a new Philippines Civil Maritime Security Program which aims to support the Philippines to strengthen its civil maritime security.
Canberra and Manila Civil Maritime Security can help each other in the maritime governance system and interagency coordination, maritime natural resources management, and environmental protection.
