Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) is backing a new joint research programme into ocean governance.
It has teamed up with the Centre for International Law (CIL) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) for the three-year project.
The aim of the project will be to build up institutional expertise in ocean governance in areas critical to bolster Singapore’s status as a global maritime hub.
CIL received a three-year research grant of SGD1.56m ($1.1m) from the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) supported by MPA to establish the CIL-MPA Oceans Governance Research Programme.
“The dynamic and complex challenges facing the shipping industry brought about by stricter regulations, climate change, growing number of vessels and new technologies require maritime leaders to challenge conventional modes of thinking,” the MPA said.
Research activities under the programme will focus on three areas: Arctic shipping governance; transit passage regimes under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and marine environmental governance.
The research team will also conduct an analysis of the development of a new international agreement to govern the sustainable use and conservation of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
The CIL-MPA Oceans Governance Research Programme will be headed by Associate Professor Robert Beckman, Director of CIL and concurrent head of CIL’s Ocean Law and Policy Programme.
“As a major flag state and port state and an active member of the IMO, Singapore has an interest in ensuring that the international legal regime governing international shipping ensures the safety of navigation, addresses threats to maritime security, and minimises the risk of ship-source pollution,” said Professor Robert Beckman.
