United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in the United States

PART XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 300
Good faith and abuse of rights

States Parties shall fulfil in good faith the obligations assumed under
this Convention and shall exercise the rights, jurisdiction and freedoms
recognized in this Convention in a manner which would not constitute an
abuse of right.

Article 301
Peaceful uses of the seas

In exercising their rights and performing their duties under this
Convention, States Parties shall refrain from any threat or use of force
against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State,
or in any other manner inconsistent with the principles of international
law embodied in the Charter of the United Nations.

Article 302
Disclosure of information

Without prejudice to the right of a State Party to resort to the procedures
for the settlement of disputes provided for in this Convention, nothing in
this Convention shall be deemed to require a State Party, in the fulfilment
of its obligations under this Convention, to supply information the
disclosure of which is contrary to the essential interests of its security.

Article 303
Archaeological and
historical objects found at sea

1. States have the duty to protect objects of an archaeological and
historical nature found at sea and shall co-operate for this purpose.
2. In order to control traffic in such objects, the coastal State may, in
applying article 33, presume that their removal from the sea-bed in the
zone referred to in that article without its approval would result in an
infringement within its territory or territorial sea of the laws and
regulations referred to in that article.

3. Nothing in this article affects the rights of identifiable owners, the
law of salvage or other rules of admiralty, or laws and practices with
respect to cultural exchanges.

4. This article is without prejudice to other international agreements and
rules of international law regarding the protection of objects of an
archaeological and historical nature.

Article 304
Responsibility and liability for damage

The provisions of this Convention regarding responsibility and liability
for damage are without prejudice to the application of existing rules and
the development of further rules regarding responsibility and liability
under international law.

PART XVII
FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 305
Signature

1. This Convention shall be open for signature by:

(a) all States;
(b) Namibia, represented by the United Nations Council for Namibia;
(c) all self-governing associated States which have chosen that status in
an act of self-determination supervised and approved by the United
Nations in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and
which have competence over the matters governed by this Convention,
including the competence to enter into treaties in respect of those
matters;
(d) all self-governing associated States which, in accordance with their
respective instruments of association, have competence over the
matters governed by this Convention, including the competence to
enter into treaties in respect of those matters;
(e) all territories which enjoy full internal self-government, recognized
as such by the United Nations, but have not attained full
independence in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV)
and which have competence over the matters governed by this
Convention, including the competence to enter into treaties in
respect of those matters;
(f) international organizations, in accordance with Annex IX.

2. This Convention shall remain open for signature until 9 December 1984 at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Jamaica and also, from 1 July 1983 until
9 December 1984, at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Article 306
Ratification and formal confirmation

This Convention is subject to ratification by States and the other entities
referred to in article 305, paragraph 1 (b), (c), (d) and (e), and to
formal confirmation, in accordance with Annex IX, by the entities referred
to in article 305, paragraph 1 (f). The instruments of ratification and of
formal confirmation shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the
United Nations.

Article 307
Accession

This Convention shall remain open for accession by States and the other
entities referred to in article 305. Accession by the entities referred to
in article 305, paragraph 1 (f), shall be in accordance with Annex IX. The
instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of
the United Nations.

Article 308
Entry into force

1. This Convention shall enter into force 12 months after the date of
deposit of the sixtieth instrument of ratification or accession.

2. For each State ratifying or acceding to this Convention after the
deposit of the sixtieth instrument of ratification or accession, the
Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the
deposit of its instrument of ratification or accession, subject to
paragraph 1.

3. The Assembly of the Authority shall meet on the date of entry into force
of this Convention and shall elect the Council of the Authority. The first
Council shall be constituted in a manner consistent with the purpose of
article 161 if the provisions of that article cannot be strictly applied.

4. The rules, regulations and procedures drafted by the Preparatory
Commission shall apply provisionally pending their formal adoption by the
Authority in accordance with Part XI.

5. The Authority and its organs shall act in accordance with resolution II
of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea relating to
preparatory investment and with decisions of the Preparatory Commission
taken pursuant to that resolution.