The Lomonosov Ridge and the Overlapping Outer Continental Shelf Claim to North Pole

摘要

The Lomonosov Ridge is not precisely marked on maps, and it is therefore difficult to determine exactly how the territorial claims overlap on this specific ridge. If delineated according to internationally acknowledged equidistance line principles,there should not be any Lomonosov Ridge dispute between Canada and Greenland since they both claim different parts of the Ridge. However, applying these same principles there will be a dispute between Russia and Canada, and Russia and Denmark. The Lomonosov Ridge is one of the most remote, isolated and harsh environments on the planet, and any possible commercial exploration is not in the near future. States might be in a "race" to claim it, but neither of the disputes over the Lomonosov Ridge will likely be resolved, either on the settlement table or before the international court, before Canada, Russia (resub-mission), and Denmark submit their claims to the Commission. Accordingly, it is also important to remember that it will take a long time for the Commission to review the claims and resubmissions since it only reviews an average of four per year and has a backlog of 40 claims. Therefore, while several States may be pressing their claims, in all likelihood there will not be a rash to resolve the Lomonosov ridge dispute.