Explanatory note

This Order confers privileges and immunities on the International Sea-Bed Authority, its officials, representatives of its members and experts performing missions for it, and on the Enterprise, an organ of the Authority. These privileges and immunities are conferred in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Cmnd. 8941). The Order will enable Her Majesty’s Government to give effect to that Convention, and will come into force, with the exception of Article 13, on the date on which the Convention enters into force in respect of the United Kingdom. Article 13 will come into force when the Enterprise operates independently of the Secretariat of the Authority.