The Rights and Obligations of States in Disputed Maritime Areas, written by Youri Van Logchem

Citation

Firatli GC (2022) The Rights and Obligations of States in Disputed Maritime Areas, written by Youri Van Logchem. The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law, 37 (1), pp. 179-184. https://doi.org/10.1163/15718085-bja10080

Abstract
First paragraph: The issue of disputed maritime areas has occupied, and continues to occupy, academics, legal professionals and judges. The expansion of the limits of coastal States’ jurisdiction and the geographical position of the majority of coastal States means that any maritime zones that they may claim off their coasts are likely to overlap with maritime zones of one or more neighbouring coastal States. However, reaching an agreement on disputed maritime areas is not always a straightforward exercise, especially when disputes over land territory are also involved. It is estimated that today there are around 180 disputed maritime areas where no maritime boundary exists. Pending settlement, activities within disputed maritime areas are problematic because both claimant States have overlapping claims to jurisdiction, which creates uncertainty and strains relations between States if one of the claimants acts unilaterally in relation to the area. Given that this is the case, legal scholars and professionals have been searching for answers to legal questions that arise from such disputed maritime areas. In a recent book on the subject, Yiallourides argues that provisional arrangements in the form of joint development is the way forward for claimant States in the exploration and exploitation of seabed resources, pending delimitation of maritime boundaries. The book under review here – The Rights and Obligations of States in Disputed Maritime Areas by Youri Van Logchem – is the latest addition to this body of literature, and it has a different focus, namely, the applicable legal framework when claimant States have not been able to agree on provisional (cooperative) arrangements. This is a topic which the author asserts to be ‘both pressing and topical’ (p. 5). The book identifies relevant international rules that govern the conduct of claimant States and there is also some discussion of third States and their rights in disputed maritime areas.

Journal
The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law: Volume 37, Issue 1