Preliminary Objections of the M/V Norstar Case

Abstract

The Spanish authorities following a request of Italy seized M/V Norstar an oil tanker registered under the flag of Panama when it was anchored in the Bay of Palma de Mallorca, Spain, in 1998. Panama demanded release of the vessel and payment for the damage caused by unlawful arrest of M/V Norstar, but it has not been fulfilled. In 2015, Panama instituted proceedings against Italy in a dispute between the two states concerning the interpretation and application of the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea in connection with the detention of M/V Norstar by Italy. Italy submitted its preliminary objections on the lack of jurisdiction the International Tribunal for the Law of Sea (ITLOS) and the inadmissibility of the application of Panama. In this paper, the judgment of ITLOS on Italy’s preliminary objection, base on lack of jurisdiction and inadmissibility was examined. In addition, subjects such as estoppel, extinctive prescription, State representation and acquiescence were also evaluated.

Keywords

• M/V Norstar Case,The United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS),International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS),Panama,Italy

M/V Norstar Davası’nın İlk İtirazları

Abstract

1998 yılında, İtalya’nın isteği üzerine İspanya makamları tarafından, Panama bayraklı M/V Norstar adındaki petrol tankerine İspanya’nın Palma de Mallorca Körfezinde demirlediği sırada el konulmuştur. Panama, M/V Norstar’ın serbest bırakılmasını ve hukuksuz alıkonulmasından doğan zararın giderilmesini talep etmiş fakat yerine getirilmemiştir. 2015 yılında Panama, M/V Norstar’ın İtalya tarafından alıkonulması ile bağlantılı Birleşmiş Milletler Deniz Hukuku Sözleşmesi’nin yorumlanması ve uygulanması ile ilgili iki devlet arasında bir uyuşmazlık sebebiyle İtalya’ya karşı dava açmıştır. İtalya, Uluslararası Deniz Hukuku Mahkemesinin yetkisizliği ve Panama’nın iddialarının kabul edilemezliğine karşı ilk itirazlarını sunmuştur. Bu çalışmada, Uluslararası Deniz Hukuku Mahkemesinin, İtalya’nın ilk itirazları olan yetkisizlik ve kabul edilmezlik konusunda verdiği karar incelenmiştir. Ayrıca, önceki beyanlara aykırı tutum yasağı, ıskati zaman aşımı, devletin temsili ve zımni kabul gibi konular da değerlendirilmiştir.

Keywords

• M/V Norstar Davası,Uluslararası Deniz Hukuku Mahkemesi,(UDHM),Birleşmiş Milletler Deniz Hukuku Sözleşmesi (BMDHS),Panama,İtalya

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