Explanatory note

This Order confers privileges and immunities on the International Seabed 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) and the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Seabed Authority (Cm. 4592). The Order will enable Her Majesty’s Government to give effect to that Convention and the Protocol and will come into force, with the exception of Article 15, on the date on which the Protocol enters into force in respect of the United Kingdom. Article 15 will come into force when the Enterprise operates independently of the Secretariat of the Authority.