As I have explained in previous replies to parliamentary questions in respect of maritime claims in the Hatton-Rockall area, Rockall itself is of no relevance in the delimitation of maritime boundaries. Denmark (on behalf of the Faroe Islands), Iceland, Ireland and the UK all make claims to continental shelf in the Hatton-Rockall area. Ireland and the UK have reached agreement on the delimitation of the boundary between them but those claims are not accepted by Iceland or Denmark, which make their own claims.
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea requires any State Party making claims with respect to areas of continental shelf more than 200 nautical miles from its coast to submit its claims for examination to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf within ten years of the Convention entering into force for that state. The Convention was ratified by Denmark on 16 November 2004 and it entered into force for Denmark on 16 December 2004. As has been indicated in previous replies, Denmark has submitted its claim with respect to Hatton-Rockall (the submission was made on 2 December 2010). Ireland and the UK have also submitted claims (both claims were lodged on 31 March 2009), but Iceland has not done so. The Commission's rules of procedure prevent consideration by the Commission of a submission relating to a disputed area without the consent of all the states concerned and Iceland does not currently consent to the consideration of these submissions.
The four countries have met frequently since 2001 in an effort to resolve the overlapping claims issue, but have been unable to reach agreement. The Government continues to work for the creation of conditions that will permit consideration of its submission as soon as possible.
