Something like 99% of all international data travels through subsea cables protected by UNCLOS.
Freedom of Navigation and overflight are enshrined in UNCLOS.
EEZs and sovereign rights over seabed resources are created and enforced through UNCLOS.
Freedom of Navigation and overflight are enshrined in UNCLOS.
EEZs and sovereign rights over seabed resources are created and enforced through UNCLOS.
December 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Something like 99% of all international data travels through subsea cables protected by UNCLOS.
Freedom of Navigation and overflight are enshrined in UNCLOS.
EEZs and sovereign rights over seabed resources are created and enforced through UNCLOS.
Freedom of Navigation and overflight are enshrined in UNCLOS.
EEZs and sovereign rights over seabed resources are created and enforced through UNCLOS.
The US hasn't ratified UNCLOS 🤷
Evil empire shit
Evil empire shit
August 7, 2026 at 2:34 PM
The US hasn't ratified UNCLOS 🤷
Evil empire shit
Evil empire shit
9/23
Second I would be very cautious about calling it “piracy”. Piracy has a specific legal meaning under UNCLOS Article 101.
Among other requirements, it concerns acts committed on the high seas or somewhere outside the jurisdiction of any state.
Second I would be very cautious about calling it “piracy”. Piracy has a specific legal meaning under UNCLOS Article 101.
Among other requirements, it concerns acts committed on the high seas or somewhere outside the jurisdiction of any state.
September 22, 2026 at 8:48 PM
9/23
Second I would be very cautious about calling it “piracy”. Piracy has a specific legal meaning under UNCLOS Article 101.
Among other requirements, it concerns acts committed on the high seas or somewhere outside the jurisdiction of any state.
Second I would be very cautious about calling it “piracy”. Piracy has a specific legal meaning under UNCLOS Article 101.
Among other requirements, it concerns acts committed on the high seas or somewhere outside the jurisdiction of any state.
2/23
That principle is not something invented by the RNLI, Border Force or the French authorities.
It is embedded in international maritime law.
UNCLOS Article 98 requires ships to render assistance to people in danger at sea and to proceed to their rescue where reasonably possible.
That principle is not something invented by the RNLI, Border Force or the French authorities.
It is embedded in international maritime law.
UNCLOS Article 98 requires ships to render assistance to people in danger at sea and to proceed to their rescue where reasonably possible.
September 22, 2026 at 8:48 PM
2/23
That principle is not something invented by the RNLI, Border Force or the French authorities.
It is embedded in international maritime law.
UNCLOS Article 98 requires ships to render assistance to people in danger at sea and to proceed to their rescue where reasonably possible.
That principle is not something invented by the RNLI, Border Force or the French authorities.
It is embedded in international maritime law.
UNCLOS Article 98 requires ships to render assistance to people in danger at sea and to proceed to their rescue where reasonably possible.
Fishing, scientific research, pipelines in the High Seas are all part of UNCLOS. The deep-sea mining debate is fundamentally a debate over the common heritage of the high seas established through UNCLOS. Protection of the marine environment is UNCLOS.
December 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Fishing, scientific research, pipelines in the High Seas are all part of UNCLOS. The deep-sea mining debate is fundamentally a debate over the common heritage of the high seas established through UNCLOS. Protection of the marine environment is UNCLOS.
Nice. This is probably the result of the working group on UNCLOS:
”Vessels shall sail under the flag of only one State and vessels that sail under the flags of two or more states, using them according to convenience, may be treated as a ship without nationality, as according to UNCLOS Article 92.”
”Vessels shall sail under the flag of only one State and vessels that sail under the flags of two or more states, using them according to convenience, may be treated as a ship without nationality, as according to UNCLOS Article 92.”
Nu börjar det hända saker. JEF+ varnar i praktiken Ryssland för att man kommer att stoppa skuggflottan. Sverige med bland de 14 länderna.
The growing risks to maritime safety
www.gov.uk
January 27, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Nice. This is probably the result of the working group on UNCLOS:
”Vessels shall sail under the flag of only one State and vessels that sail under the flags of two or more states, using them according to convenience, may be treated as a ship without nationality, as according to UNCLOS Article 92.”
”Vessels shall sail under the flag of only one State and vessels that sail under the flags of two or more states, using them according to convenience, may be treated as a ship without nationality, as according to UNCLOS Article 92.”
Sinking IRIS Dena under an undeclared conflict removes any combat necessity defense. Pure aggression under UN Charter Art. 2(4), GA Res. 3314, with UNCLOS and SOLAS violations for abandoning survivors
March 5, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Sinking IRIS Dena under an undeclared conflict removes any combat necessity defense. Pure aggression under UN Charter Art. 2(4), GA Res. 3314, with UNCLOS and SOLAS violations for abandoning survivors
Torpedoing an unarmed ship, then leaving survivors to die, violates the Geneva Conventions, UNCLOS, the UN Charter, and the Rome Statute. All at once. The Trump regime claims no war exists, which makes this even more illegal. Calling it an 'operation' doesn't make it legal.
March 5, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Torpedoing an unarmed ship, then leaving survivors to die, violates the Geneva Conventions, UNCLOS, the UN Charter, and the Rome Statute. All at once. The Trump regime claims no war exists, which makes this even more illegal. Calling it an 'operation' doesn't make it legal.
Russia has long had eyes on Arctic expansion. UNCLOS and the agencies created by UNCLOS, including the Commission on the Limits of the Outer Continental Shelf and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea have held them back.
December 10, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Russia has long had eyes on Arctic expansion. UNCLOS and the agencies created by UNCLOS, including the Commission on the Limits of the Outer Continental Shelf and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea have held them back.
The US never ratified the treaty, but until this year, has treated UNCLOS as customary law.
If other major powers follow the US's lead and declare UNCLOS irrelevant (or worse, start pulling out of the treaty), the amount of global destabilization that will result is unfathomable.
If other major powers follow the US's lead and declare UNCLOS irrelevant (or worse, start pulling out of the treaty), the amount of global destabilization that will result is unfathomable.
December 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
The US never ratified the treaty, but until this year, has treated UNCLOS as customary law.
If other major powers follow the US's lead and declare UNCLOS irrelevant (or worse, start pulling out of the treaty), the amount of global destabilization that will result is unfathomable.
If other major powers follow the US's lead and declare UNCLOS irrelevant (or worse, start pulling out of the treaty), the amount of global destabilization that will result is unfathomable.
And piracy vis UNCLOS www.imo.org/en/ourwork/s...
Piracy and armed robbery against ships
www.imo.org
September 22, 2026 at 7:39 PM
And piracy vis UNCLOS www.imo.org/en/ourwork/s...
Does Iran have the legal right to create checkpoints in the Strait of Hormuz? According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, they do not. However, Iran signed but never ratified UNCLOS 1982, similar to the United States. As a result, Iran reverts to UNCLOS 1958.
March 19, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Does Iran have the legal right to create checkpoints in the Strait of Hormuz? According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, they do not. However, Iran signed but never ratified UNCLOS 1982, similar to the United States. As a result, Iran reverts to UNCLOS 1958.
UNCLOS is in tatters. With the United States renaming and blockading Gulfs. Russia seizing maritime territory. And now Israeli pirates operating off Greece.
April 30, 2026 at 9:46 AM
UNCLOS is in tatters. With the United States renaming and blockading Gulfs. Russia seizing maritime territory. And now Israeli pirates operating off Greece.
I know that we’re not party to UNCLOS and that the murder part is worse, but this might have violated multiple pieces of private and international law as well as the sacred duty to render aid to sailors in distress.
UPDATE: COLOMBIA’s President says 🇺🇸 government (Trump) “committed murder” and bombed a fisherman with no ties to drugs
“The boat was adrift and had its distress signal up due to an engine failure”
“The boat was adrift and had its distress signal up due to an engine failure”
October 19, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I know that we’re not party to UNCLOS and that the murder part is worse, but this might have violated multiple pieces of private and international law as well as the sacred duty to render aid to sailors in distress.
14/ Porque sí: Irán firmó UNCLOS en 1982. Es estado parte. No está violando una norma ajena. Está violando una que firmó.
April 12, 2026 at 7:42 AM
14/ Porque sí: Irán firmó UNCLOS en 1982. Es estado parte. No está violando una norma ajena. Está violando una que firmó.
USCG apparently made a request (multiple instances) to render aid. So, even if UNCLOS hasn’t been ratified by the USG, the Coast Guard obviously gave a shit….then Zuck is a heartless shithead worthy of accountability and of our contempt.
August 7, 2026 at 4:47 PM
USCG apparently made a request (multiple instances) to render aid. So, even if UNCLOS hasn’t been ratified by the USG, the Coast Guard obviously gave a shit….then Zuck is a heartless shithead worthy of accountability and of our contempt.
for my UNCLOS fans, this is a great explanation (see thread).
If you've been following the news about the suspected sabotage of the Estlink 2 power cable in the Gulf of Finland between Finland and Estonia, you might have seen this or a similar map of the territorial waters in the Gulf of Finland.
December 27, 2024 at 1:24 PM
for my UNCLOS fans, this is a great explanation (see thread).
As @leif-11.bsky.social points out, UNCLOS and other law bodies are not clear on exactly what legal reality opens up after a navy has deemed a ship stateless, some argue domestic laws apply, some argue otherwise. UK, FR and SE seem to fall in the former.
Here is a primer (caveat, AI?)
Here is a primer (caveat, AI?)
What constitutes a stateless vessel under UNCLOS and c...
Executive summary
UNCLOS does not give a single statutory definition of “stateless” vessels but treats ships “without nationality” as those not entitled to...
factually.co
June 18, 2026 at 9:40 PM
As @leif-11.bsky.social points out, UNCLOS and other law bodies are not clear on exactly what legal reality opens up after a navy has deemed a ship stateless, some argue domestic laws apply, some argue otherwise. UK, FR and SE seem to fall in the former.
Here is a primer (caveat, AI?)
Here is a primer (caveat, AI?)
Here is the full text of the UNCLOS: www.un.org/depts/los/co...
www.un.org
September 27, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Here is the full text of the UNCLOS: www.un.org/depts/los/co...
I mean yeah that's a pretty big part, too. And not just UNCLOS (which we're still not a party to because 'Murica) but UNCLOS as it simply restates customary international law going all the way back to... Hugo Grotius and mare liberum, I guess.
September 3, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I mean yeah that's a pretty big part, too. And not just UNCLOS (which we're still not a party to because 'Murica) but UNCLOS as it simply restates customary international law going all the way back to... Hugo Grotius and mare liberum, I guess.
While I am dubious this will happen, it does mean official US policy appears to be reversing our centuries old commitment to freedom of navigation and more recent pledge to adhere to UNCLOS on such issues
POTUS announces the US is reinstating the blockade of Iran and that the US will be collecting tolls on traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Because of course.
Every day a new adventure in lawlessness.
Because of course.
Every day a new adventure in lawlessness.
July 13, 2026 at 2:34 PM
While I am dubious this will happen, it does mean official US policy appears to be reversing our centuries old commitment to freedom of navigation and more recent pledge to adhere to UNCLOS on such issues
kinda think the most likely scenario is everybody goes "oops I guess the SoH is now Iranian-Omani territorial waters now, well anyway back to UNCLOS rulings talking about literally anywhere else"
June 2, 2026 at 5:29 AM
kinda think the most likely scenario is everybody goes "oops I guess the SoH is now Iranian-Omani territorial waters now, well anyway back to UNCLOS rulings talking about literally anywhere else"
yeah it is incredibly perverse that we are enforcing UNCLOS without ratifying it.
There’s another twist here in the fact that the US is enforcing UNCLOS without having ratified it, which is kind of Leviathanesque (to be integral to the law and yet above it) —that I chuntered on about c. 1 year ago. See right hand panel of shot.
January 12, 2024 at 2:12 AM
yeah it is incredibly perverse that we are enforcing UNCLOS without ratifying it.
I dont think UNCLOS is dead for the same reason above but it will get weaker because you’re right about the math of the third missile age
September 24, 2026 at 5:42 PM
I dont think UNCLOS is dead for the same reason above but it will get weaker because you’re right about the math of the third missile age