CIL-ANCORS Workshop on
Maritime Boundary Delimitation
27-29 February 2024
From 27-29 February 2024, the Centre for International Law (CIL) of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) of the University of Wollongong co-hosted a Workshop on Maritime Boundary Delimitation. Held at NUS Bukit Timah Campus, the Workshop was the seventh in the workshop series on maritime boundary delimitation co-organised by CIL and ANCORS. It aims to provide capacity building for government officials and practitioners who are responsible for negotiating complex maritime boundary issues with their neighbouring countries.
The Workshop had a record number of 56 participants from diverse professional backgrounds, including diplomats, hydrographers, lawyers and academics. The 2024 Workshop welcomed, for the first time, 9 participants from 5 Pacific Islands Countries: Fiji, Palau, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. ASEAN member states continued their active engagement with this workshop series, with 31 participants in this year’s workshop from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. In addition, both CIL and ANCORS were delighted to have participants from the Bahamas, Chile, Egypt, Maldives, Oman joining us this year. The Workshop had participants from 22 countries.
The 2024 Workshop was privileged to have distinguished panellists comprising senior government officials, a seasoned litigator, and leading academics in relevant topics. Their experience and expertise were demonstrated through their informative and in-depth lectures and abilities to enlighten the audience by answering questions and comments from the participants. In general, the trainers received high scores from the participants for the delivery and content of their lectures.
This year’s Workshop continued to utilise practical maritime delimitation negotiation exercises for pedagogical purposes, and in particular to enhance collaborative learning and knowledge sharing. Participants were divided into eight teams where they were required to engage in negotiations of a maritime boundary between two states. During the breakout sessions, participants with practical experience in negotiation and hydrographic surveys were able to share their insights with their teammates, and facilitate fruitful discussions. Trainers visited every negotiation room to monitor the group exercises, as well as answer questions from the groups. The group exercises, which spread across three days of the Workshop, enabled the participants to appreciate the complexities of maritime boundary delimitation issues and provided them with a practical understanding of theories they acquired during the lectures. In addition, the group exercises provided chances for participants to cultivate connections and friendships with their classmates from all over the world. Moreover, with its in-person format, the 2024 Workshop was able to maximise the interaction and networking opportunities between trainers and participants, not only during the Workshop sessions, but also during tea and lunch breaks, reception dinner, as well as the social activity that took place at the Singapore Flyer.
PRE-EVENT INFORMATION
Over subscription - Registration is closed as of 9 Feb 2024, 8.00am
Following the success of the Maritime Boundary Delimitation Training Workshops in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Centre for International Law (CIL) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) at the University of Wollongong will bring together leading experts, practitioners and scholars for its seventh Workshop on Maritime Boundary Delimitation from 27 to 29 February 2024. This in-person Workshop will be held at the premises of the NUS Faculty of Law, Bukit Timah Campus in Singapore.
The 2024 Workshop is organized in conjunction with the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) and limited scholarships are available. (Note: Only candidates from selected Southeast Asian states and Pacific Island States qualify for scholarships.)
PROGRAMME
The 2024 Workshop brings together a world-class faculty to deliver a dynamic combination of interactive lectures and guided delimitation exercises, and combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience in negotiating maritime boundaries. Lectures will cover key issues in maritime boundary delimitation including an overview on the jurisdictional framework in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; the legal evolution of boundary delimitation; baselines and geographic complexities; factors to be considered in boundary negotiations; delimitation between the EEZ and continental shelf; the impact of sea-level rise on baselines, limits and boundaries; and the referral of disputes to third party dispute settlement.
A key feature of the CIL-ANCORS Workshop on Maritime Boundaries Delimitation is the practical negotiation exercise that allows participants to negotiate a maritime boundary enabling them to gain practical insights into the challenges inherent in negotiating a boundary as well as the skills necessary to overcome such challenges.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
The 2024 Workshop is designed for diplomats and government officials responsible for maritime boundary delimitation issues, including legal experts, technical experts, hydrographers, and officers from related government departments. This Workshop will also be of interest to academics and practitioners who have a keen interest in maritime delimitation issues.
Participants will:
- Gain in-depth knowledge from experts in the field of maritime delimitation;
- Network with fellow professionals engaged in the practice and study of maritime delimitation;
- Acquire practical negotiation skills through interactive delimitation exercises;
- Stay updated on the latest developments in maritime delimitation.
FACULTY
The faculty for the 2024 Workshop will include seasoned academics and practitioners from CIL and ANCORS, as well as government officials from ASEAN, Pacific Islands states and the United States.
- I Made Andi ARSANA, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
- Robert BECKMAN, Centre for International Law, NUS
- Leonardo BERNARD, ANCORS, University of Wollongong
- Lauren BURKE, Australian Attorney-General’s Department
- Tara DAVENPORT, Centre for International Law, NUS
- Robyn FROST, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia
- Robert HARRIS, United States Department of State
- Stuart KAYE, ANCORS, University of Wollongong
- Lawrence MARTIN, Foley Hoag LLP, United States
- Janice MOSE, The Pacific Community
- Clive SCHOFILED, ANCORS, University of Wollongong
- Malakai VAKAUTAWALE, The Pacific Community
OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION: YWCA FORT CANNING LODGE (WEBSITE)
Negotiated room rates are available for participants attending the workshop. Daily transfers from the hotel to the training venue (and back) will be provided for participants staying at YWCA Fort Canning Lodge. Please email Ms Eileen Tan (eileentan@ywca.org.sg) to make reservations.
FEES + REGISTRATION
The workshop fee of USD 1,500 nett / SGD 2,046 nett includes breaks, lunch, and course materials over the three-day course. There are limited spaces available and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. (Over subscription - Registration is closed as of 9 Feb 2024, 8.00am)
ENQUIRIES
For enquiries, please email Ms Gerry Ng at cil.events@nus.edu.sg