聯合國海洋法公約（United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea）指聯合國曾召開的三次海洋法會議，以及1982年第三次會議所決議的海洋法公約（LOS）聯合國海洋法公約，正式生效日為1994年11月16日。該公約定義了各國在海上不同區域的權利與限制，包括各沿海國可在其沿海設立二百海里專屬經濟海域（Exclusive Economic Zone, EEZ），並享有探勘和開發、養護和管理海域內相關自然資源之主權權利。
其內容包括下列共十七部份
完整的公約內容請看這裡(中文)
自一月底COVID-19疫情迅速蔓延後，IMO國際海事組織發布一系列海事活動的建議與指導，包括IMO和各國際單位的聯合聲明:
Personal message from IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim to seafarers (21 April 2020)
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim statement (19 March 2020) Tackling COVID-19 – a voyage together
IMO press briefings: click here.
IMO has issued the following circular letters:
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IMO has received, and circulated, communications from Member States and Associate Members Communications
Click here to view full list of communications received by country and subject.
Download PDF – Table overview: List of Circular Letters with COVID-19 related notifications received from Member States (updated weekly).
IMO最新的消息和Circular Letter請看這裡
上下游記者 林怡均
位於台海中線上的「台灣淺堆」，是澎湖白金「土魠魚」的孵孕產卵之地，蘊含豐富漁業資源，然而過去二十年遭受中國「滾輪式底拖網」破壞海床生態，近期更有中國抽砂船在此盜採海砂，面臨生態浩劫。儘管海巡署加強查緝，但因違法僅判4到6個月，不具嚇阻作用，民間呼籲政府需儘速修法，提高罰則並加強空中偵察資源，才能保護台灣海底國土。
台灣淺堆又被稱為台灣灘、南淺、台灣淺灘、Taiwan bank，位於澎湖群島西南方(東經117°40’至119°20’、北緯22°30’至23°20’的區域)，是一處水深約40公尺、最淺處僅8.6公尺、面積約1萬3千平方公里（將近台灣面積的三分之一）的廣大沙波，其中心距離馬公約80海浬、北界距離七美島約30海浬。
台灣淺堆是澎湖最大傳統漁場，農委會水試所1974年及2020年報告均指出，澎湖主要漁業經濟物種土魠魚、鎖管、臭肉鰮、沙鮻、白帶魚、藍圓鰺 （巴浪）等都是在此產卵；產卵季節3至8月的土魠魚，便是以台灣淺堆為最主要產卵場；1970年至1990年間，澎湖的鎖管和臭肉鰮佔全國產量9成，作業漁場亦是在台灣淺堆附近。
國立中央大學地球科學學系碩士顧文舒在2017年發表論文指出，台灣淺堆區域所含沉積物，為末次冰期時中國東南部河流在此區堆積的三角洲，其海床底質主要有粗顆粒沉積物的石英，愈靠近中國和澎湖群島，則有較多長石。
台灣淺堆位於台海中線交界，中線以東約有9成區域屬於台灣國土範疇，中線以西剩餘一成區域則為經濟水域範疇，豐沛的漁業資源及石英礦砂也引來中國漁船及抽砂船的覬覦，二十多年前，中國底拖網漁船大舉入侵，滾輪式底拖網漁船已重創海底珊瑚礁生態。
近年來許多中國鐵殼抽砂船及運搬船出現在台灣淺堆，因中國砂石需求量大增，卻嚴令禁止於境內河川及沿海抽沙，因此中國業者將作業範圍從福建沿海一路往海峽中線推進，近三年甚至越過了中線，進入台灣淺堆和澎湖七美附近海域，海巡署去年5月至10月在台灣淺堆驅逐560艘中國抽砂船，但仍難阻擋中國船入侵，今年1月至4月驅逐量則高達1077艘。
中華民國自然生態保育協會理事長鄭明修表示，過去中國滾輪式底拖網已破壞珊瑚礁，如今台灣淺堆每天可能會有高達數十萬噸砂被採走，大量海砂被抽取將使海底砂石層結構變化，更會破壞海洋生物棲地，導致海洋生態系正面臨崩毀。
出生於澎湖的鄭明修從小與海為伍，今年4月鄭明修與研究團隊前往台灣淺堆進行潛水調查，「這是台灣首次在台灣淺堆海底生態攝影與錄影紀錄！」鄭明修興奮表示，一共記錄到約643尾魚，魚種共16科44種，有許多大型經濟型魚類，例如：紅甘鰺、石鱸、笛鯛，甚至還看到一尾長約60公分的龍虎斑。
「三線磯鱸、寒鯛、金花鱸，還有黑蝶貝。」鄭明修下潛時，除了看到魚，還有許多軟珊瑚類，例如：海扇、海雞頭等，約十餘種，甚至在大量的石英砂中看到了不少迷你貝，「這些迷你貝一輩子不會長超過一公分。」
鄭明修展示照片，可以看到水下世界繽紛且生意盎然，但令他擔憂的是，一下潛便看到一大片底拖網正覆蓋在軟珊瑚上、纏繞在礁石，「這些尼龍網幾百年都不會腐壞，這漁網是拖網，這樣覆蓋下去，海洋生態真的是很淒慘。」
「土魠魚號稱澎湖白金，關乎漁民生計。」鄭明修表示，土魠魚為澎湖漁民帶來豐厚收益，中國抽砂船大舉盜砂多抽取水深30公尺以上的海床，但此處正是土魠魚孵育產卵所在，抽砂會破壞海床生態環境，也會抽走小珊瑚、土魠魚及其他魚卵，使得底棲性漁業資源滅絕，迫切需要急刻救援。
鄭明修認為，未來不應只是加強取締非法，也應透過兩岸了解互信，共謀台灣淺堆健康的海洋環境。鄭提出四點建議：呼籲中國大陸約束違法抽砂船，避免大量抽砂行為破壞台灣淺堆珍貴且豐富的海洋生態系；同時呼籲中國大陸依兩岸協同執法機制，共同合作打擊台灣淺堆違法抽砂船。
目前《中華民國專屬經濟海域及大陸礁層法》第18條中罰則僅判處五年以下有期徒刑、拘役或科或併科新台幣五千萬元以下罰金。針對台灣部分，鄭明修呼籲法務部、經濟部、內政部、陸委會通力合作研議修訂相關法令，使海委會海巡署依法有據，強力執法。
鄭建議農委會和海委會編列預算，進行海底生態環境與漁業資源長期監測調查計畫。此外，應強化「海洋偵監」與提升「執法能量」，部署海域巡邏定翼飛機或直升機，才能即時從空中偵監廣大海域，並且滿足「及時」救援或執法的需求，讓派船更經濟、巡邏更有效。
海巡署巡防組組長王正信表示，近五年在金馬地區及台灣淺堆海域強力驅離中國抽砂船，共計查扣抽（運）砂船13艘、沒入12艘，拍賣了1億3823萬6千元，13艘抽砂船中有2艘是去年在台灣淺堆水域查扣的。
王正信表示，107年起發現台灣淺堆成為盜砂熱點後，海巡署已成立專案與澎湖縣政府跨部會合作，於去年10月24日派出4艦2艇展開取締，首次引《中華民國專屬經濟海域及大陸礁層法》第18條、第20條及《土石採取法》第36條來究辦。
取締扣留中國籍抽（運）砂船分別為4,266噸級「豐溢9969」、16,468噸級「長鑫36」與28位船員，由澎湖地檢署指揮偵辦，今年1月6日澎湖地方法院宣判，判決2名船長各6個月有期徒刑、26名船員各4個月有期徒刑，抽石船、運砂船及船上海砂全部沒收，運砂船和抽砂船目前在興達港等待拍賣。
對於民間建議兩岸共同打擊盜砂，王正信回應，陸委會與海巡署多次透過「海峽兩岸共同打擊犯罪協議」及「協同執法機制」，通報中國海警局相關部門邀請共同執法，但因為台灣淺堆水域位置特殊，對方基於政治因素，並未做正面具體回應。
王正信表示，《中華民國專屬經濟海域及大陸礁層法》第18條刑罰力度確有不足，目前個案從重量刑，行政院目前已請內政部會同法務部研議修正，增加重罪刑等樣態來杜絕違法盜砂行為，海委會也已召開跨部會會議，研商帶案查扣相關配套。
而對於空中偵察的建議，王正信表示，期待未來建置專屬空中偵察資源，目前國防部與空勤總隊皆有協助，二月起已開始讓一艘大型艦執行24小時巡邏及強制驅離，待專案規劃完備即刻啟動查扣。
SMM, the leading international maritime trade fair, has been postponed to 2-5 February 2021 in response to the coronavirus pandemic and its global impact on major events and international travelling.
“The continued highly dynamic development of COVID-19 and the resulting ban on major events have left us no other choice but to postpone SMM to next year. Finding a suitable new timeframe for SMM was not an easy task for us, and we are happy we have been able to do so,” said Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress.
Following intense consultations with the exhibitor advisory board, Hamburg Messe und Congress and its partners and other exhibitor representatives have agreed on the new dates, from 2 to 5 February 2021. This means SMM will be the new year’s first international gathering of the maritime industry.
“We will offer the global maritime community an extraordinary, more compact SMM in February 2021. Together we will overcome this crisis and host an SMM that will live up to its own, high standards. We are looking forward to welcoming everybody back,” said Bernd Aufderheide.
Originally SMM was to take place from 8 to 11 September 2020.
Detailed answers to any questions in connection with the postponement can be found at www.smm-hamburg.com.
CLIA —the Cruise Line Industry International Association — announced yesterday that its ocean-going cruise lines will be voluntarily and temporarily suspending cruise ship operations from U.S. ports of call for 30 days as public health officials and the U.S. Government continue to address COVID-19.
The announcement came after several cruise lines had individually announced similar suspensions.
CLIA cruise line members are voluntarily and temporarily suspending operations from the U.S. as we work to address this public health crisis,” said Kelly Craighead, President and CEO, CLIA. “This is an unprecedented situation. Our industry has taken responsibility for protecting public health for more than 50 years, working under the guidance of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and prides itself on its ability to deliver exceptional vacation experiences for guests, as well as meaningful employment opportunities for crew. This has been a challenging time, but we hope that this decision will enable us to focus on the future and a return to normal as soon as possible.”
The temporary suspension will take effect at 12:00AM EDT on 14 March 2020. CLIA ocean-going cruise lines are focused on the safe and smooth return of those currently at sea onboard ships that will be affected by this decision.
“We do not take this decision lightly, and we want the traveling public to know in no uncertain terms the commitment of this industry to putting people first,” said Adam Goldstein, CLIA Global Chairman. “During this time, we will continue to work with the CDC and others to prepare for resumption of sailings when it is appropriate. We know the travel industry is a huge economic engine for the United States and when our ships once again sail, our industry will be a significant contributor to fueling the economic recovery.”
Guests who are booked on cruise itineraries which will be impacted by this decision are encouraged to contact their travel advisors or reach out to their cruise lines directly.
Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages says it has made the very difficult decision to postpone the Showcase Tour launch and inaugural sailing season for its first ship, Scarlet Lady, until July 15, 2020, with its Maiden Voyage taking place August 7, 2020.
“The business is well supported and our partnership between the Virgin Group and Bain Capital means that Virgin Voyages can remain focused on the health and safety of our Sailors and Crew,” said a statement from Branson and Virgin Voyages president Tom McAlpin. (“Sailors” is what Virgin Voyages calls its passengers).
“We have absolutely no health issues aboard our ship and have elevated protocols in place as we continue to put your well-being first,” says the announcement, which adds that “Virgin Voyages is working with relevant parties to research new technologies that will help to expedite health screenings and make people feel safe. Developments are ongoing and the hope is to identify this opportunity over the course of the next month.”
文章來源: Marine Log
In Pernambuco, Brazil, health authorities decided to hold the cruise ship Silver Shadow in quarantine at the port of Recife last Thursday after a passenger developed coronavirus symptoms. The individual, a 78-year-old man, has tested positive. He was disembarked and taken to a local hospital.
Over 600 passengers remain on board.“We have asked guests on the ships to temporarily remain in their cabins in accordance with our medical isolation protocols,” a spokesperson for operator Silversea told The Guardian.
As in previous quarantines, meals are being delivered for passengers and placed outside of their rooms. “It’s really nothing to complain about,” said passenger Doug Bernstein, speaking to the Naples Daily News. “This ship is amazing. The crew have been fabulous, both in terms of impeccable service and caution.”
“The atmosphere is peaceful, the guests remain in their cabins and the only different situation is that the vessel will receive drinking water and will remove solid and liquid waste today. All under the supervision of [health officials],” said Olimar Cardoso dos Santos, regional coordinator for Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).
The Silversea vessel Silver Explorer has been quarantined at the port of Chacabuco, Chile after an 83-year-old passenger from the UK tested positive for COVID-19. The individual has been evacuated to a nearby hospital, and Chilean health minister Jaime Manalich told media that the man was in good condition.
The quarantine comes as Chile implements strict restrictions on movement: the nation has closed its borders to foreign nationals, though cargo operations will continue as before. “We’ve decided to close all our country’s terrestrial, maritime and aerial borders for the transit of foreigners,” announced Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera at a press conference on Monday.
In addition to the known cases aboard Braemar, Silver Shadow and Silver Explorer, other vessels have encountered delays and precautionary measures as port state officials move to control possible coronavirus risks.
Chile’s decision to close its borders Monday had an immediate effect for the Holland America cruise ship Zaandam, which has no known or suspected cases on board. “Despite a positive outlook for disembarking Zaandam guests today at Punta Arenas, Chile, we were not allowed to do so by local authorities. Therefore, the ship departed the port this evening and is now en route to San Antonio, Chile, for a service call to take on fuel and other provisions,” Holland America said in a statement. “Our Seattle headquarters and the ship are working with several governments and embassies on options for where to disembark guests.”
Aboard the Golden Princess, three passengers have been quarantined aboard with respiratory symptoms; one individual was tested and returned a negative result for the virus. There are no known cases on board, and Golden Princess has been cleared to sail. She is now making her way to Australia.
Norwegian Jewel canceled port calls in Tahiti and Fiji after she was denied permission to enter, and she is now anchored off Suva. “We are actively working to find an alternative port and are communicating with guests regularly as we have further information,” operator NCL said in a statement. The vessel has no known or suspected cases on board.
The Costa Luminosa is currently under way for Marseilles after a transatlantic voyage from the Caribbean, and passengers have expressed concern that she may have positive cases on board. Three passengers from the current voyage have been disembarked and have since tested positive for the disease.
On February 29, one Costa Luminosa passenger was medevaced to the Cayman Islands after developing symptoms of a stroke. He later tested positive for COVID-19, and on Saturday he died, according to the Miami Herald.
On March 8, two more passengers were disembarked in Puerto Rico, and they have also tested positive for COVID-19. The vessel was then refused entry to Antigua and headed onwards to her next port of call, the Canary Islands, a weeklong voyage across the Atlantic. Upon arrival she disembarked three more ill passengers (their test status has not been reported).
Costa Luminosa is now headed onwards for Marseilles, where she is due to arrive Thursday. Non-Italian guests are expected to be allowed to disembark, according to a letter provided to passengers and shared on social media. Photos and accounts provided by passengers currently on board the ship indicate that quarantine measures have been implemented.
文章來源: The Maritime Executive
The ferry company Stena Line with its headquarters based in Gothenburg announces 950 planned job redundancies in Sweden. This measure is in response to the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) that has had a substantial effect on Stena Line’s passenger operations.
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and travel restrictions imposed by several countries, Stena Line has, like many other companies within the travel industry, seen a drastic decline in travel bookings.
Since Saturday, 14 March, Stena Line has completely stopped operating its Oslo – Frederikshavn route until further notice. At present, it is estimated that passenger operations will not recover before the peak season in summer. Stena Line is therefore forced to take drastic measures to adapt the reduce costs of the new business situation and to secure the continuity of their freight business.
Today on Monday, 16 March, Stena Line will announce its planned job redundancies that will affect 950 people employed by Stena Line Scandinavia AB. The planned job redundancies concern positions onboard and offshore, on nine Swedish flagged vessels, as well as positions in the two sister companies Stena Line Travel Group and Retail & Food Services.
“Due to the current situation we are facing, we have no choice but to adjust our operations and our costs to limit the drop in demand and secure the continuity of our freight operations”, says Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line.
Stena Line is currently evaluating its overall operations in all regions due to the sharp decline in travel bookings and does not rule out that there will be further reductions or series of changes to its timetables and/or the route network.
臺灣海峽地震活動活躍，為了超前部署，爭取提早因應的時間，中央大學吳祚任副教授帶領研究團隊分析台灣的海嘯敏感區域，除建置海嘯預警系統監測網，更預佈40處數值潮位計，可全面掌控臺灣沿海的海嘯威脅，達到預警與防災避災功能。（李明朝報導）
根據中央大學學者及科學家長期研究，利用高解析海底地形剖面與臺灣海峽歷史地震分佈資料，研究臺灣海峽內的活動斷層構造，發現臺灣海峽地震活動規模雖然沒有本島頻繁，但仍有大規模地震的記錄。尤其在台灣海峽西側靠近福建與廣東沿海地區。在這區域的歷史災害型地震以1604年規模接近8的泉州地震海嘯最大，顯示臺灣海峽並不平靜。
或許很多人以為臺灣沒有出現過海嘯，中大吳祚任老師表示，台灣曾有大規模海嘯的歷史案例，例如1867基隆大海嘯，根據目前研究顯示，極有可能由海底山崩所引發。可怕的是，那場海嘯甚至打到獅球嶺隧道口，威力極為強大。另一個案例是1781年發生於現今高雄屏東一帶的高屏海嘯。
為了超前部署防堵海嘯災防破口，吳祚任正在分析台灣的山崩海嘯敏感區域，為將來山崩型海嘯預警鋪路。在地震型海嘯預警方面，除了建設臺灣自身的海嘯預警系統，也透過中央氣象局結合美國NOAA PMEL海嘯預警系統，同時針對台灣佈設高達40個數值潮位計，全面提升台灣海嘯預警能力。透過這些守門神的預警系統，確保臺灣可及早因應海嘯，發揮防災、減災的功能。
吳祚任表示，海嘯是一種跨越國際籓籬的自然災害，必須結合國際力量共同面對，一起防範可能引發的重大災害。
來源：中廣新聞網
鉅亨網編譯陳佾煒
美國專利商標局於近期授權了微軟一項專利，標題為「人造魚礁數據中心」，涉及與海洋環保相關的建築體。
此發明涵蓋的設備包括，能在水體中運作並連接網路的數據中心，容納數據中心的壓力容器，以及能整合進壓力容器，並維持周圍生態系統的數項組件。
微軟此次的發明主要與環境問題相關。而蘋果也是致力於解決環境問題的企業之一。目前，蘋果便會在 iPhone 和 MacBooks 等產品中使用回收材料，使用機器人拆卸 iPhone 上的廢金屬，建立太陽能發電場，並致力將成為第一間使用無碳技術的公司。
該專利指出，現行的人造魚礁通常是由對環境極不友善的人造物製成，例如石油鑽孔機或報廢車輛。這些人造魚礁可能會造成海岸侵蝕、海洋生物減少、暗礁損毀且會對周遭生物的生態系造成嚴重影響，進而破壞生態的平衡。
因此，微軟便期望透過此次的專利改善上述問題。除了商業用途外，該人造礁石數據中心將配置有效提升海洋生物居住品質並促進生態系統的結構組件，並發揮環境保育的功能。
微軟此次被授予的專利編號為 10524395，於 2019 年 5 月提交。而該專利目前僅獲得美國專利局授權通過，未來蘋果是否確切運用、或何時運用至旗下設施中，目前仍無從得知。
隨著地球升溫，珊瑚礁白化已成為一個令人頭痛的問題，萬一無法減緩現況，珊瑚礁蘊藏的豐富海洋生態也將會一併消失，進而造成環境衝擊。因此，以色列的科學家決定用 3D 列印科技來拯救珊瑚。
在以色列的伊拉特（Eilat）城市沿岸海底，以色列理工學院的 Design-Tech Lab 嘗試放置宛如甜甜圈串的人造「珊瑚礁」，以吸引魚群進駐並維持生態多樣性。
團隊領導人 Ezri Tarazi 表示，雖然這些實驗品不像真正的珊瑚礁，但它們仍然能夠塑造出足夠的空間和複雜性，尤其是透過電腦程式所計算的差異，可以讓列印出來的各種成品得以擁有相異的豐富構造，藉此吸引不同魚群。
這些人造珊瑚礁的材料為利用當地黏土製成的低成本陶瓷，能夠快速的組裝並種植真正的珊瑚礁上去，理論上可以為失去自我修復能力的珊瑚區域提供一定的輔助和支撐。
然而，此項實驗終究算不上是最佳解方，若是生長其上的活珊瑚礁數量不足，就沒辦法成長以應付逐漸升高的海平面，此外，大面積的執行將會產生可觀的花費。其他類似的方法，諸如人工繁殖珊瑚，也面臨相同的問題，甚至被批評會排擠到維護海洋環境的預算。
最終，人們還是要解決最根本的問題─全球暖化，否則就算研究出再多的方法，仍然還是治標不治本。
來源：https://buzzorange.com/techorange/2019/08/26/3d-print-israel-coral-reef/
