Abstract
On 6 October 2006, Australia introduced compulsory pilotage for the Torres Strait and Great North East Channel. The shipping route through this area constitutes a strait used for international navigation to which the transit passage regime in Part III of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS Convention) applies. This chapter addresses the mix of legal, operational and political considerations with the Torres Strait pilotage regime. While the regime has been introduced into Australian domestic law, doubts have been raised about whether the regime is in accordance with international law, particularly Part III of the LOS Convention. Ambassador Tommy Koh of Singapore considers that Australias case is weak, and sets an unfortunate precedent. On the other hand, there are many political and operational factors that suggest that the Australian government had no alternative but to introduce the system of compulsory pilotage for the Torres Strait. Keywords: compulsory pilotage; international law; international navigation; LOS Convention; political considerations; Torres Strait
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
