Instructor:     Eka Siradze, LLM                            

Course Objective:  The purpose of this course is to give the student an understanding about the general issues of the law of the sea, progressive development and codification of the subject, problems of implementation of the international instruments, state practice and ICJ experience, a necessity for the states to cooperate in the field of safe navigation and environmental protection. Students will gain the appreciation of the importance and benefits of the peaceful use of the world ocean and the real results of the centuries-old battles and negotiations thereupon.

Required Text: The Law of the Sea – R.R. Churchill & A.V. Lowe
                          The International Law of the Sea – Brown, I-II Volumes
                          United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982      

Other Materials: Cases, International Conventions (for which there will be a modest copying cost).   

Grading:  Class Participation (5%)
                 Homework (5%)
                 Group Project (20%)
                 Quiz I  (20%)
                 Quiz II (20%)
                 Final Exam (30% - Cumulative)   

Caveat emptor:

• There will be no make-up exams. Students with a documented university approved absence will have the weight of the missed exam added onto the final. All other excuses are a zero.

• Homework and cases will not be accepted late. A zero will be assigned if not handed-in by the beginning of the class period on the day it is due. A documented university approved absence will be the only exception.

• The course schedule may change as needed and it is up to each student to keep abreast of such changes, whether in attendance or not.

• You will not earn class participation points for attendance. One-half of your participation grade will consist of a short presentation (3-5) minutes: each student is to present a current legal basis and/or state practice related to the topics covered in the course. This presentation is mandatory in order to receive full credit for class participation but it is not sufficient. The other one-half of your class participation grade includes answering questions in class, being prepared and able to discuss in-class cases, and adding insightful comments to the topics covered in class.          

• The department of Law adheres to the university policy on academic honesty as contained in the “Academic Regulations” section of the University catalog. The section contains some examples of unacceptable conduct including plagiarism, cheating on examinations, unauthorized collaborations, etc.

Course Schedule

Date                     Topics                                                               Reading
      
                  Definition, system and sources of                                      Ch.
                  the International Law of the Sea

                  Baselines and Internal Waters                                           Ch.

                  The Territorial Sea & The Contagious Zone                      Ch.

                  Straits and Canals& Archipelagos                                     Ch.

                  The Exclusive Economic Zone&
                  The Continental Shelf                                                        Ch.

                  Ship Registration                                                               Ch.

                  High Seas                                                                         Ch.

                  Fishing                                                                              Ch.

                  Land lock and geographically disadvantaged
                  states & Enclosed and semi enclosed seas                         Ch.

                  Marine scientific research                                                  Ch.                 

                  The protection of the marin environment                            Ch.

                  Area                                                                                 Ch.

                  Delimitation of the Maritime Boundaries                             Ch.

                  Settlement of Disputes
                  Fin Exam                                                                          Ch.

Project  Presentation

Class Schedule

 10:00 – 10:45               New Material
 15 Min.                        Break
 11:00 – 11:45               Presentation
 15 Min.                        Break
 12:00 – 13:00               Problems Discussion