Challenges for icebreaker assistance for ships: Exercising navigational rights under the LOSC

Abstract

Icebreaker assistance plays an integral part in Arctic navigation. Without icebreakers providing these essential services navigation would be unfeasible. This thesis addresses the challenges posed by the regime of icebreaker assistance within the Law of the Sea Convention. This thesis has been structured into 5 chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the topic as well as the research questions that are to be answered. Chapter 2 gives a factual overview of icebreakers and also defines icebreaker assistance. Chapter 3 looks at the regime of icebreaker assistance under international law by looking at how it is incorporated in the LOSC via navigational rights and also focuses on sovereign immunities. Chapter 4 presents 3 challenges identified by the author that are endemic to icebreaker assistance. Chapter 5 concludes this thesis and provides brief remarks for the future of icebreaker assistance as the challenges identified do not have easy solutions.