# United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea/Part 14

Part XIV
Development and transfer of marine technology
Section 1. General provisions
Article 266 Promotion of the development and transfer of marine technology
1. States, directly or through competent international organizations, shall cooperate in accordance with their capabilities to promote actively the development and transfer of marine science and marine technology on fair and reasonable terms and conditions.
2. States shall promote the development of the marine scientific and technological capacity of States which may need and request technical assistance in this field, particularly developing States, including land-locked and geographically disadvantaged States, with regard to the exploration, exploitation, conservation and management of marine resources, the protection and preservation of the marine environment, marine scientific research and other activities in the marine environment compatible with this Convention, with a view to accelerating the social and economic development of the developing States.
3. States shall endeavour to foster favourable economic and legal conditions for the transfer of marine technology for the benefit of all parties concerned on an equitable basis.
Article 267 Protection of legitimate interests
States, in promoting cooperation pursuant to article 266, shall have due regard for all legitimate interests including, inter alia, the rights and duties of holders, suppliers and recipients of marine technology.
Article 268 Basic objectives
States, directly or through competent international organizations, shall promote:
    (a) the acquisition, evaluation and dissemination of marine technological knowledge and facilitate access to such information and data;
    (b) the development of appropriate marine technology;
    (c) the development of the necessary technological infrastructure to facilitate the transfer of marine technology;
    (d) the development of human resources through training and education of nationals of developing States and countries and especially the nationals of the least developed among them;
    (e) international cooperation at all levels, particularly at the regional, subregional and bilateral levels.
Article 269 Measures to achieve the basic objectives
In order to achieve the objectives referred to in article 268, States, directly or through competent international organizations, shall endeavour, inter alia, to:
    (a) establish programmes of technical cooperation for the effective transfer of all kinds of marine technology to States which may need and request technical assistance in this field, particularly the developing land-locked and geographically disadvantaged States, as well as other developing States which have not been able either to establish or develop their own technological capacity in marine science and in the exploration and exploitation of marine resources or to develop the infrastructure of such technology;
    (b) promote favourable conditions for the conclusion of agreements, contracts and other similar arrangements, under equitable and reasonable conditions;
    (c) hold conferences, seminars and symposia on scientific and technological subjects, in particular on policies and methods for the transfer of marine technology;
    (d) promote the exchange of scientists and of technological and other experts;
    (e) undertake projects and promote joint ventures and other forms of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Section 2. International cooperation
Article 270 Ways and means of international cooperation
International cooperation for the development and transfer of marine technology shall be carried out, where feasible and appropriate, through existing bilateral, regional or multilateral programmes, and also through expanded and new programmes in order to facilitate marine scientific research, the transfer of marine technology, particularly in new fields, and appropriate international funding for ocean research and development.
Article 271 Guidelines, criteria and standards
States, directly or through competent international organizations, shall promote the establishment of generally accepted guidelines, criteria and standards for the transfer of marine technology on a bilateral basis or within the framework of international organizations and other fora, taking into account, in particular, the interests and needs of developing States.
Article 272 Coordination of international programmes
In the field of transfer of marine technology, States shall endeavour to ensure that competent international organizations coordinate their activities, including any regional or global programmes, taking into account the interests and needs of developing States, particularly land-locked and geographically disadvantaged States.
Article 273 Cooperation with international organizations and the Authority
States shall cooperate actively with competent international organizations and the Authority to encourage and facilitate the transfer to developing States, their nationals and the Enterprise of skills and marine technology with regard to activities in the Area.
Article 274 Objectives of the Authority
Subject to all legitimate interests including, inter alia, the rights and duties of holders, suppliers and recipients of technology, the Authority, with regard to activities in the Area, shall ensure that:
    (a) on the basis of the principle of equitable geographical distribution, nationals of developing States, whether coastal, land-locked or geographically disadvantaged, shall be taken on for the purposes of training as members of the managerial, research and technical staff constituted for its undertakings;
    (b) the technical documentation on the relevant equipment, machinery, devices and processes is made available to all States, in particular developing States which may need and request technical assistance in this field;
    (c) adequate provision is made by the Authority to facilitate the acquisition of technical assistance in the field of marine technology by States which may need and request it, in particular developing States, and the acquisition by their nationals of the necessary skills and know-how, including professional training;
    (d) States which may need and request technical assistance in this field, in particular developing States, are assisted in the acquisition of necessary equipment, processes, plant and other technical know-how through any financial arrangements provided for in this Convention.
Section 3. National and regional marine scientific and technological centres
Article 275 Establishment of national centres
1. States, directly or through competent international organizations and the Authority, shall promote the establishment, particularly in developing coastal States, of national marine scientific and technological research centres and the strengthening of existing national centres, in order to stimulate and advance the conduct of marine scientific research by developing coastal States and to enhance their national capabilities to utilize and preserve their marine resources for their economic benefit.
2. States, through competent international organizations and the Authority, shall give adequate support to facilitate the establishment and strengthening of such national centres so as to provide for advanced training facilities and necessary equipment, skills and know-how as well as technical experts to such States which may need and request such assistance.
Article 276 Establishment of regional centres
1. States, in coordination with the competent international organizations, the Authority and national marine scientific and technological research institutions, shall promote the establishment of regional marine scientific and technological research centres, particularly in developing States, in order to stimulate and advance the conduct of marine scientific research by developing States and foster the transfer of marine technology.
2. All States of a region shall cooperate with the regional centres therein to ensure the more effective achievement of their objectives.
Article 277 Functions of regional centres
The functions of such regional centres shall include, inter alia:
    (a) training and educational programmes at all levels on various aspects of marine scientific and technological research, particularly marine biology, including conservation and management of living resources, oceanography, hydrography, engineering, geological exploration of the seabed, mining and desalination technologies;
    (b) management studies;
    (c) study programmes related to the protection and preservation of the marine environment and the prevention, reduction and control of pollution;
    (d) organization of regional conferences, seminars and symposia;
    (e) acquisition and processing of marine scientific and technological data and information;
    (f) prompt dissemination of results of marine scientific and technological research in readily available publications;
    (g) publicizing national policies with regard to the transfer of marine technology and systematic comparative study of those policies;
    (h) compilation and systematization of information on the marketing of technology and on contracts and other arrangements concerning patents;
    (i) technical cooperation with other States of the region.
Section 4. Cooperation among international organizations
Article 278 Cooperation among international organizations
The competent international organizations referred to in this Part and in Part XIII shall take all appropriate measures to ensure, either directly or in close cooperation among themselves, the effective discharge of their functions and responsibilities under this Part.