(NEWS) WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute Contributes to COLP46

September

2023

WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute Contributes to COLP46

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From 20 to 22 September, the WMU - Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (GOI) of the World Maritime University (WMU) took part in the 46th Conference on Ocean Law and Policy (COLP), in Istanbul, Türkiye. The conference theme of "Safe, Secure, and Sustainable Shipping" gathered participants from around the world to discuss pressing issues regarding sustainability in the shipping industry and ocean governance.

Expert speakers from key agencies and institutions, many of whom are WMU alumni, contributed to the programme, addressing topics that included transitioning to zero-emission shipping, promoting collaboration, sustainability, innovation, climate change, and protecting the oceans beyond national jurisdiction. WMU had a strong presence at the event with speakers and moderators that included faculty, alumni, and distinguished scholars who support the work of WMU. Topics presented included Optimizing the Vessel Inspection Domain via Robotic Systems: The "Human Element” by Dr Aspasia Pastra, and Shades of Grey in the Bay of Bengal and Beyond: Exploring the Ocean Governance implications of 'Grey Areas' seawards on 200 nautical miles from the coast, by Professor Clive Schofield. Assistant Professor Tafsir Johansson co-presented on "Standards of Decarbonization and Techno-Regulation (NP): Transcending Prescriptive Boundaries," and Assistant Professor Aleke Stöfen-O'Brien presented "Plastic Treaty Negotiations: Paris to Nairobi: Developments and Discontents" for the panel on Protection of the Marine Environment. Professor Ronán Long, Director of the GOI, closed the event, moderating the final panel focused on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction with Dr. Mariamalia Rodriguez Chaves contributing to the discussions.

The two-day conference was held in person only and was attended by over 200 attendees from across the globe. The attendees represented various sectors, including governments, United Nations entities and intergovernmental organizations (IGO), academia, industry, non-governmental organizations (NGO), civil societies, and philanthropic foundations.

Over the past 46 years, the COLP annual conference has gathered international scholars and senior diplomats together to undertake interdisciplinary dialogue and research on the most challenging issues in the law of the sea and ocean affairs. This year’s event was hosted by Ankara University National Centre for the Sea and Maritime Law (DEHUKAM) and delivered in collaboration with Stockton Center for International Law, U.S. Naval War College (SCIL), the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute, Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), Australian Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong (ANCORS), Gujarat Maritime University (GMU), the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMO IMLI), and The Nippon Foundation.

About the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute

The WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (GOI) is an independent focal point for the ocean science-policy-law-industry-society interface where policy makers, the scientific community, regulators, industry actors, academics, and representatives of civil society meet to discuss how best to manage and use ocean spaces and their resources in accordance with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Institute was inaugurated in May 2018 and made possible through generous support from The Nippon Foundation of Japan, the Governments of Sweden, Canada, and Germany, as well as the City of Malmö.

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