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3 Submissions to the Commission on the Limits
of the Continental Shelf
The level of knowledge of the geology and evolution of the Arctic has progressed
significantly since that first submission to the CLCS by Russia, so that the Arctic
States are now in a position to prepare well substantiated submissions to the CLCS
as to the extent of their continental shelves. International collaboration to achieve
this level of knowledge was indeed needed, and functioned despite the political tensions that were apparent between States. Such joint efforts included the development of technology to facilitate operations in deep water, in remote areas and under
harsh conditions. These technologies included the use of two icebreakers operating
in tandem to collect high quality seismic reflection and swath bathymetry data
despite ice cover, and also the development of remotely operated vehicles as well as
autonomous underwater vehicles that can operate beneath the ice. Submissions to
the CLCS were made by Norway (in 2006), Denmark together with the government
of Greenland (in 2014) and Russia (with a revised submission in 2015). Canada has
already made a partial submission for its Atlantic margin in 2013, but only submitted preliminary information as to the extent of its continental shelf beyond 200 M in
the Arctic. However, Canada is now actively preparing its submission for the Arctic
ocean.
1
The United States, which has yet to ratify the Convention, has acquired
significant amounts of data through its Extended Continental Shelf Project (ECS
2018). Much of the data necessary to delineate the continental shelf of the United
States and Canada in the Arctic Ocean was collected cooperatively in a two-ship
operation. Using the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Healy and the Canadian
Coast Guard ship Louis S. Saint Laurent, multibeam bathymetric data and as well as
seismic reflection and refraction data were collected. Similarly, the Russian icebreaker 50 let Pobedy was followed by the Swedish icebreaker Oden during a joint
cruise with Denmark to collect geophysical data.
Figure 1 presents a map with the potential continental shelves beyond 200 M for
each of the Arctic States. The map shows that overlaps exist between the potential
areas of extended continental shelf. Despite these overlaps, all the relevant States
have indicated in their submissions to the CLCS that they will peacefully resolve
any overlapping delimitations amongst themselves and have allowed the CLCS to
examine their submissions without prejudice to future delimitation. It should be
noted that, although the continental shelf beyond 200 M represents a significant
interest in sovereignty for the States, most of the significant oil and natural gas fields
are located in their respective exclusive economic zones or national territorial waters
and not in overlapping areas of extended continental shelf.
1 On 23 May 2019, Canada submitted to the CLCS, in accordance with Article 76, paragraph 8, of
the Convention, information on the limits of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from
the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured in the Arctic Ocean.
W. R. Roest and R. T. Haworth
3 Submissions to the Commission on the Limits
of the Continental Shelf
The level of knowledge of the geology and evolution of the Arctic has progressed
significantly since that first submission to the CLCS by Russia, so that the Arctic
States are now in a position to prepare well substantiated submissions to the CLCS
as to the extent of their continental shelves. International collaboration to achieve
this level of knowledge was indeed needed, and functioned despite the political tensions that were apparent between States. Such joint efforts included the development of technology to facilitate operations in deep water, in remote areas and under
harsh conditions. These technologies included the use of two icebreakers operating
in tandem to collect high quality seismic reflection and swath bathymetry data
despite ice cover, and also the development of remotely operated vehicles as well as
autonomous underwater vehicles that can operate beneath the ice. Submissions to
the CLCS were made by Norway (in 2006), Denmark together with the government
of Greenland (in 2014) and Russia (with a revised submission in 2015). Canada has
already made a partial submission for its Atlantic margin in 2013, but only submitted preliminary information as to the extent of its continental shelf beyond 200 M in
the Arctic. However, Canada is now actively preparing its submission for the Arctic
ocean.
1
The United States, which has yet to ratify the Convention, has acquired
significant amounts of data through its Extended Continental Shelf Project (ECS
2018). Much of the data necessary to delineate the continental shelf of the United
States and Canada in the Arctic Ocean was collected cooperatively in a two-ship
operation. Using the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Healy and the Canadian
Coast Guard ship Louis S. Saint Laurent, multibeam bathymetric data and as well as
seismic reflection and refraction data were collected. Similarly, the Russian icebreaker 50 let Pobedy was followed by the Swedish icebreaker Oden during a joint
cruise with Denmark to collect geophysical data.
Figure 1 presents a map with the potential continental shelves beyond 200 M for
each of the Arctic States. The map shows that overlaps exist between the potential
areas of extended continental shelf. Despite these overlaps, all the relevant States
have indicated in their submissions to the CLCS that they will peacefully resolve
any overlapping delimitations amongst themselves and have allowed the CLCS to
examine their submissions without prejudice to future delimitation. It should be
noted that, although the continental shelf beyond 200 M represents a significant
interest in sovereignty for the States, most of the significant oil and natural gas fields
are located in their respective exclusive economic zones or national territorial waters
and not in overlapping areas of extended continental shelf.
1 On 23 May 2019, Canada submitted to the CLCS, in accordance with Article 76, paragraph 8, of
the Convention, information on the limits of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from
the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured in the Arctic Ocean.
W. R. Roest and R. T. Haworth