The sixth IFLOS Summer Academy at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea took place from 22 July to 18 August, 2012 and focused once again on the “Uses and Protection of the Sea – Legal, Economic and Natural Science Perspectives” while maintaining our banner for this and future events, namely “Promoting Ocean Governance and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes”.
The Foundation welcomed 35 participants from 32 different countries from around the world. With nationals from 10 countries not having been represented at the Summer Academy before, our “Global Reach” grew to 84 nations with 184 Alumni on all continents (see “Our alumni“). Seven of the attendees were selected by the Tribunal within the framework of the Nippon Program; 28 were chosen by the Foundation in cooperation with the Tribunal.
The number of applications rose slightly against last year and the Foundation took note of a sustained high degree of academic qualification and professional achievements amongst the applicants.
The Foundation’s supporters (China Institute of International Studies, Edmund Siemers-Stiftung and German Foreign Office {Auswärtiges Amt}) as well as Individual Scholarships providers (Ince & Co. International Law Firm, Lebuhn & Puchta Rechtsanwälte and Watson, Farley & Williams) made it possible to award 10 scholarships, 2 partial scholarships and 5 travel grants. Given the fact that The Nippon Foundation enabled 7 other participants to take part in the course, 19 young academicians, most from developing countries, i.e. more than half of the participants, attended the Academy with financial aid.
As its predecessors, the 2012 Academy covered a variety of Law of the Sea, Maritime Law and related topics and dealt extensively with specific subjects of interest such as marine environmental protection, oil pollution and its consequences, as well as ship-building and vessel-financing. As before, a visit to the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg was part of the programme, followed by a reception of our partner institution. Based on the experience from previous Summer Academies, the schedule maintained the distinguishable block on Maritime Delimitation, where the traditional practical workshop with a prelude of mineral and petroleum resources topics was followed by the legal and political solutions. A copy of the Schedule is attached.
During the four weeks of the program, the participants had the opportunity to meet an impressive faculty composed of over 30 renowned personalities who travelled to Hamburg from many different corners of the world to share their expertise and experience with the participants on a pro bono basis. The Foundation is especially grateful for the invaluable contributions by the members of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, namely President Shunji Yanai, former President Rüdiger Wolfrum, former Vice President Helmut Türk, Judges Tafsir Ndiaye, Vladimir Golitsyn and David Attard as well as Registrar Philippe Gautier. Many members of the faculties 2007 to 2011 – legal and economic experts, natural scientists and experienced practitioners in maritime affairs could be attracted to return to Hamburg. A copy of the List of Lecturers is attached.
No less than three distinctive speakers formed the panel for the traditional Open Event, entitled “Protection of the Marine Environment – Political, Practical and Scientific Perspectives”. Kurt Bodewig (Federal Minister {ret.}, Chairman, Baltic Sea Forum) addressed “The Baltic Sea – Challenges and Chances”. Katharina Stanzel (Managing Director, INTERTANKO) spoke about “Marine Environmental Protection in Practice – The Shipowners’ Perspective” and Anne Christine Brusendorff (General Secretary, ICES) about “An Ecosystem Approach to Management”. The session in the Courtroom of the Tribunal was very well attended.
Four teams competed in the Moot Court Tournament held in the Court Room of the Tribunal and gave an impressive performance. Although there was not much time to prepare the memorials and the hearings, the participants came up with well-prepared arguments and sharp answers to the questions put to them by the moot court bench consisting of former Vice President Helmut Türk from the Tribunal (presiding), Professors Doris König and Alexander Prölß as well as Attorney-at Law Christoph Hasche. As before, the moot court judges chose a winning Team and awarded a special recognition for best oral argumentation.
A group of 10 participants drafted a Final Resolution on the results of the Summer Academy, highlighting the achievements of the previous Summer Academies and giving valuable proposals for possible future improvements; copies of the English and French versions are attached.
Although the schedule was tight, there was some time reserved for extra-curricular activities. The participants had the opportunity to do some sight-seeing in Hamburg and its vicinity during a very informative bus tour as well as a boat tour through the port and they went to the medieval city of Lübeck. Furthermore, the participants visited the Blohm & Voss shipyard across the river. Once again, the Foundation managed to organise an excursion to Berlin, with a visit to the Reichstag. There were also various social functions; Haus Rissen and Bucerius Law School both invited the Class of 2012 for barbeques, Ince & Co hosted an evening at a typical Hamburg sailor’s pub and Frank Leonhardt a reception at the premises of Leonhardt & Blumberg.
At the close of the Summer Academy, the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg held an impressive reception in the Town Hall, hosted by Senator of Justice Jana Schiedeck, where the participants received their certificates.
Although the participants came from very diverse legal and cultural backgrounds they got along with each other very well and formed a very active and interested group. With their help, the Foundation will try to keep track of all of them to further facilitate networking and add to the Alumni circle founded by the Class of 2007. The feedback given by the participants was in every sense overwhelmingly positive, especially concerning the consistency of the group and the quality of the lectures delivered.
The Foundation should like to express sincere thanks to President Yanai and Registrar Gautier for facilitating the generous grant from CIIS as well as for allowing to use the small courtroom in the main building for classes; without these invaluable contributions we would not have been able to invite the largest class ever. We would like to thank all the staff members of the Tribunal who have supported the team of the Foundation so well before and during the course of the Summer Academy.
After the Summer Academy is before the Summer Academy