The States Parties to this Protocol and to any one or more of the Conventions on the
Law of the Sea adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea held
at Geneva from 24 February to 27 April 1958,
Expressing their wish to resort, in all matters concerning them in respect of any
dispute arising out of the interpretation or application of any article of any Convention
on the Law of the Sea of 29 April 1958, to the compulsory jurisdiction of the International
Court of Justice, unless some other form of settlement is provided in the Convention
or has been agreed upon by the Parties within a reasonable period,
Disputes arising out of the interpretation or application of any Convention on the
Law of the Sea shall lie within the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court
of Justice, and may accordingly be brought before the Court by an application made
by any party to the dispute being a Party to this Protocol.
The Parties may agree, within a period of two months after one party has notified
its opinion to the other that a dispute exists, to resort not to the International
Court of Justice but to an arbitral tribunal. After the expiry of said period, either
Party to this Protocol may bring the dispute before the Court by an application.
This Protocol shall remain open for signature by all States who become Parties to
any Convention on the Law of the Sea adopted by the United Nations Conference on the
Law of the Sea and is subject to ratification, where necessary, according to the constitutional
requirements of the signatory States.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States who become Parties
to any Convention on the Law of the Sea of signatures to this Protocol and of the
deposit of instruments of ratification in accordance with article V.
The original of this Protocol, of which the Chinese, English, French, Russian and
Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General
of the United Nations, who shall send certified copies thereof to all States referred
to in article V.