International Seabed Authority

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SECTION 4.

THE AUTHORITY SUBSECTION

  1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

 Article 156

Establishment of the Authority

  1. There is hereby established the International Seabed Authority, which shall function in accordance with this Part.
  2. All States Parties are ipso facto members of the Authority.
  3. Observers at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea who have signed the Final Act and who are not referred to in article 305, paragraph 1(c), (d), (e) or (f), shall have the right to participate in the Authority as observers, in accordance with its rules, regulations and procedures.
  4. The seat of the Authority shall be in Jamaica.
  5. The Authority may establish such regional centres or offices as it deems necessary for the exercise of its functions.

Article 157

Nature and fundamental principles of the Authority

  1. The Authority is the organization through which States Parties shall, in accordance with this Part, organize and control activities in the Area, particularly with a view to administering the resources of the Area.
  2. The powers and functions of the Authority shall be those expressly conferred upon it by this Convention. The Authority shall have such incidental powers, consistent with this Convention, as are implicit in and necessary for the exercise of those powers and functions with respect to activities in the Area.

Desiring by this Convention to develop the principles embodied in resolution 2749 (XXV) of 17 December 1970 in which the General Assembly of the United Nations solemnly declared inter alia that the area of the seabed and ocean floor and the subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, as well as its resources, are the common heritage of mankind, the exploration and exploitation of which shall be carried out for the benefit of mankind as a whole, irrespective of the geographical location of States.

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PART I INTRODUCTION

Article 1

Use of terms and scope

1. For the purposes of this Convention: (1) “Area” means the seabed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction; (2) “Authority” means the International Seabed Authority; (3) “activities in the Area” means all activities of exploration for, and exploitation of, the resources of the Area;

2. The Authority is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its members.

3. All members of the Authority shall fulfil in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with this Part in order to ensure to all of them the rights and benefits resulting from membership.

Article 158

Organs of the Authority

  1. There are hereby established, as the principal organs of the Authority, an Assembly, a Council and a Secretariat.
  2. There is hereby established the Enterprise, the organ through which the Authority shall carry out the functions referred to in article 170, paragraph 1.
  3. Such subsidiary organs as may be found necessary may be established in accordance with this Part. 4. Each principal organ of the Authority and the Enterprise shall be responsible for exercising those powers and functions which are conferred upon it. In exercising such powers and functions each organ shall avoid taking any action which may derogate from or impede the exercise of specific powers and functions conferred upon another organ.