Focusing on the Proceedings before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

The Rules of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea were adapted on 28 Octiober after
months of deliberations from October 1996. The proceedings of the International Tribunal for the Law
of the Sea reflect the Tribunal multi-faceted jurisdiction contained in the Rules, which were adapted on
28 October 1997 after one year of deliberations. These Rules and other relevant instruments are kept
under review in order to be able to introduce modifications suggested by the experience of their
implementation. The proceedings set out in the Rules have so far proved to be very sucessfull
because they are not only expeditious but also cost-effective, i.e. the proceedings before the Tribunal
are supposed to be conducted without unnecessary delay or expense as Rule 49 set out the policy.