Panama Sues Italy for Vessel Arrest, Detention

 

Panama today filed an application with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in a dispute with Italy regarding the arrest and detention of the MV Norstar, a Panamanian-flagged vessel.

 According to the application, from 1994 until 1998 the MV Norstar was involved in supplying gasoil to mega yachts in international waters beyond the territorial seas of Italy, France and Spain. The application further states that the MV Norstar was arrested in the bay of Palma de Mallorca on 24 September 1998 by Spanish officials, at the request of Italy, allegedly for having supplied oil to mega yachts in contravention of Italian legislation.

 In its application, Panama claims compensation from Italy for damage caused by the illegal arrest of the MV Norstar in 1998. In support of its request, Panama contends that Italy violated several provisions (inter alia, articles 33, 73 (3) and (4), 87, 111, 226 and 300) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in particular the right of freedom of navigation.

 The dispute has been submitted to the Tribunal pursuant to the declarations made by Panama and Italy under article 287 of the Convention.

The case has been entered in the List of cases of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea as Case No. 25.