Oceans and the law of the sea
A/RES/70/235
154. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization, the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other relevant
actors in relation to disembarkation of persons rescued at sea, and notes in this
regard the need to implement all relevant and applicable internation al instruments
and the importance of cooperation among States as provided for in those
instruments;
155. Also notes that “Protection at sea” was the theme of the seventh Dialogue
on Protection Challenges of the High Commissioner for Refugees, held in Gen eva
on 10 and 11 December 2014;
156. Invites States to implement the Revised Guidelines on the Prevention of
Access by Stowaways and the Allocation of Responsibilities to Seek the Successful
Resolution of Stowaway Cases adopted by the International Mariti me Organization
on 2 December 2010; 73
157. Calls upon States to continue to cooperate in developing comprehensive
approaches to international migration and development, including through dialogue
on all their aspects;
158. Also calls upon States to take measures to protect fibre-optic submarine
cables and to fully address issues relating to these cables, in accordance with
international law, as reflected in the Convention;
159. Encourages greater dialogue and cooperation among States and the
relevant regional and global organizations through workshops and seminars on the
protection and maintenance of fibre-optic submarine cables to promote the security
of such critical communications infrastructure;
160. Also encourages the adoption by States of laws and regulations
addressing the breaking or injury of submarine cables or pipelines beneath the high
seas done wilfully or through culpable negligence by a ship flying its flag or by a
person subject to its jurisdiction, in accordance with international law, a s reflected
in the Convention;
161. Affirms the importance of maintenance, including the repair, of
submarine cables, undertaken in conformity with international law, as reflected in
the Convention;
162. Reaffirms that flag, port and coastal States all bear responsibility for
ensuring the effective implementation and enforcement of international instruments
relating to maritime security and safety, in accordance with international law, in
particular the Convention, and that flag States have primary respon sibility that
requires further strengthening, including through increased transparency of
ownership of vessels and the monitoring of organizations authorized to carry out
surveys and issue certificates on their behalf, taking into account the entry into fo rce
of the Code for Recognized Organizations on 1 January 2015; 74
163. Urges flag States without an effective maritime administration and
appropriate legal frameworks to establish or enhance the necessary infrastructure,
legislative and enforcement capabilities to ensure effective compliance with and
implementation and enforcement of their responsibilities under international law, in
particular the Convention, and, until such action is taken, to consider declining the
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International Maritime Organization, document MSC 88/26/Add.1, annex 6, resolution MSC.312(88).
International Maritime Organization, document MSC 92/26/Add.1, annex 1.
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