Library Guides: Law of the Sea: Treaties

Treaties and key documents

United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (1982) (UNCLOS)
The full text of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (1982) (UNCLOS) is available on the United Nations website (open access).
United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (1982) (UNCLOS) Website
The Convention also has its own website, which contains historical background information, implementing agreements, dispute settlement mechanisms and status of the Convention.
UN Diplomatic Conferences website (open access)
Travaux Préparatoires for the Law of the Sea 1958 (First Conference), 1960 (Second Conference) and 1973-1982 (Third Conference) are available on the UN Diplomatic Conferences website (open access). The Travaux Préparatoires are official documents recording the negotiations, drafting, and discussions during the process of creating a treaty. These documents may be consulted and taken into consideration when interpreting treaties.
The UN Audiovisual Library of International Law, Law of the Sea website
This lists the major treaties - each treaty page provides the full text of the treaties, travaux and related documents, information about the procedural history and useful introductory summaries (open access).

See also the following books on the Convention:

40 years of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea by Tomasz Kamiński and Karol Karski
Call Number: eBook
Publication Date: 2025
The book explores and discusses crucial aspects of the law of the sea, addressing challenges and future perspectives related to UNCLOS provisions, such as the delimitation of maritime areas, maritime security, safety, environmental protection, and the implications of advancing technologies, particularly in the realm of unmanned vessels. Additionally, the book delves into recent maritime legal challenges arising from the conflict in Ukraine and the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Legal Order in the World's Oceans: UN Convention on the Law of the Sea by Myron H. Nordquist, John Norton Moore & Ronán Long (eds)
Call Number: E-book
Publication Date: Brill, 2018
Law of the Sea: UNCLOS as a living treaty by Jill Barrett & Richard Barnes (eds)
Call Number: KC 260 LAW
Publication Date: BICL, 2016
UNCLOS 1982 Commentary: Supplementary documents by Myron H Nordquist, Satya N Nandan & James Kraska (eds)
Call Number: eBook
Publication Date: BRILL, 2012
The Law of the Sea: Official text of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea with annexes and index: final act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea : introductory material on the convention and the conference
Call Number: eBook
Publication Date: 1983
Also available in print in the Law Library at KC 260 LAW.