The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on "The Establishment of the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf: Science, Technology and Law" was Successfully Held
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From 19 October to 9 November 2021, the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on "The Establishment of the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf: Science, Technology and Law" was successfully held. The MOOC aimed to provide a systematic introduction to the legal regime of the continental shelf under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf of coastal States and the work of the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), and to discuss the scientific, technical and international law issues related to the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf. There are nine sessions in the MOOC:

Session 1: Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Delineation of the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf (19 October 2021)

Session 2: Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf: Rules of Procedure and Past Practices (20 October 2021)

Session 3: Geodetic Methodologies and the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf (26 October 2021)

Session 4: Determination of the FOS under Article 76 of UNCLOS (27 October 2021)

Session 5: The Establishment of the “Outer Edge of the Continental Margin” under Article 76, Paragraph 4 of UNCLOS (29 October 2021)

Session 6: The "Deep Ocean Floor", "Oceanic Ridges", "Submarine Ridges" and "Submarine Elevations" under Article 76 of UNCLOS (3 November 2021)

Session 7: The Submarine Fans and the Law of the Sea (2 November 2021)

Session 8: The Meaning of Natural Prolongation and Test of Appurtenance in International Law of the Sea (6 November 2021)

Session 9: The Delineation of the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf (9 November 2021)

Seven members of the CLCS were invited as lecturers. Professor Kim Hyun-soo of Inha University, Korea, Associate Professor Qiu Wenxian of Guanghua Law School, Zhejiang University, Professor Michael Shengti-Gau of Institute of International Law, Wuhan University, Professor Otto Spijkers of China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies (CIBOS), Wuhan University and Professor Su Jinyuan of Institute of International Law, Wuhan University were invited as discussants.

The MOOC was co-chaired by Professor Kong Lingjie, Associate Dean at CIBOS, Associate Professor Lei Xiaolu and Associate Professor Alexandre Pereira da Silva, with the assistance of PhD student Li Zhiyan and other students, and organized and operated by CIBOS, Wuhan University.


Professor Kong Lingjie

        The first two sessions were delivered by Professor Lawrence Folajimi Awosika, Nigerian member of the CLCS, with Professor Michael Shengti-Gau of the Institute of International Law, Wuhan University, as the discussant. Session 1, entitled "Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Delineation of the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf" (19 October), introduced the concept of the continental shelf and the regime of the continental shelf under Article 76 of the UNCLOS. Professor Tang Yong, Chinese member of the CLCS, attended the first session and delivered an opening speech.

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In Session 2, "Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf: Rules of Procedure and Past Practices" (20 October), Professor Awosika gave a detailed introduction to the functions and main work of the CLCS, and analyzed and discussed the relevant rules of procedure of the CLCS. Professor Michael Shengti-Gau commented on the nature as well as the rules and practices of the CLCS dealing with submissions made by coastal States in cases of land or maritime disputes.

In Session 3, "Geodetic Methodologies and the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf" (26 October), Dr. Estevão Stefane Mahanjane, Mozambican member of the CLCS, starting with the ordinary meaning of points, lines and distances, explained the concepts of base points and baselines, as well as relevant geodetic methodologies. Dr. Miao Dandan of the CIBOS, served as the discussant.

The topic of Session 4 was "Determination of the FOS under Article 76 of UNCLOS" (27 October). Mr. Simon Njuguna, Kenyan member of the CLCS, gave a lecture on the base of the continental slope and the foot of the continental slope, as well as the general rule and evidence to the contrary for determining the foot of the continental slope. Professor Kim Hyun-soo of the Faculty of Law, Inha University, attended this session.

Session 5 was on "The Establishment of the 'Outer Edge of the Continental Margin' under Article 76, Paragraph 4 of UNCLOS" (29 October). In this session, Mr. Njuguna presented the scientific and legal meanings of the outer edge of the continental margin, and the two formulas for its establishment. Professor Otto Spijkers of CIBOS, Wuhan University commented on the collision of science and law.

Session 6 was on "The 'Deep Ocean Floor', 'Oceanic Ridges', 'Submarine Ridges' and 'Submarine Elevations' under Article 76 of UNCLOS" (3 November). Professor Carlos Marcelo Paterlini, Argentine member of CLCS, delivered a lecture on the interpretation and application of different types of seafloor highs, taking the seabed topography in geoscience as the starting point.

The topic of Session 7 was "The Submarine Fans and the Law of the Sea" (2 November). Professor Domingos de Carvalho Viana Moreira, Angolan member of the CLCS, taking five submarine fans for examples, discussed submarine fans as natural components of the continental margin. Associate Professor Qiu Wenxian of Guanghua Law School, Zhejiang University, provided excellent comments on the sessions six and seven, based on her background in marine science and law.

Session 8 was entitled "The Meaning of Natural Prolongation and Test of Appurtenance in International Law of the Sea" (6 November). Mrs. Clodette Raharimananirina, Malagasy member of the CLCS, introduced the geological natures and history of continental margins in light of plate tectonic movements, and explained the meaning and content of natural prolongation and test of appurtenance. Professor Su Jinyuan of Institute of International Law, Wuhan University served as the discussant in Session 8.

Session 9 was entitled "The Delineation of the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf" (9 November). Dr. Aldino Campos, Portuguese member of the CLCS, elaborated his presentation in a the two-step approach: establishing the outer edge of the continental margin by applying entitlement formulae; and establishing the outer limits of the continental shelf by applying constraint formulae. Professor Otto Spijkers commented on the accommodation of technology and law, and looked further on the high seas and the Area.

There was an attendance of approximately 1000 in total of the MOOC via presence and video conference. This event provides for those interested in scientific, technical and legal issues related to the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf a learning path. Finally, the MOOC also provided for experts in related fields an excellent academic platform for the exchange of views and ideas. For more details about the MOOC, please visit the official website of the CIBOS: http://www.cibos.whu.edu.cn/en/, and the official WeChat account: whucibos.