Norway in Respect of Areas in the Arctic Ocean, the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea Executive Summary

Home , Barents Sea, Norwegian Sea, Yermak (1898 icebreaker)

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway in respect of areas in the Arctic Ocean, the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea Executive Summary

50˚00’ 85˚00’ 45˚00’ 40˚00’ 35˚00’ Continental shelf 30˚00’ 30˚00’ 200 nautical mile limit of Norway beyond 200 nautical 85˚00’ 25˚00’ 25˚00’ 20˚00’ 20˚00’ miles 15˚00’ 15˚00’ 200 nautical mile limits of other states 10˚00’5˚00’ 0˚00’ 5˚00’10˚00’ Bilateral maritime boundaries between Water depth Norway and other states 0 meter Computed median line between 500 meter Norway and the Russian Federation 1000 meter Western 80˚00’ Nansen Basin Preliminary line connecting continental 1500 meter shelf outer limit points of Norway and the Russian Federation 2000 meter Outer limit of the continental shelf 2500 meter beyond 200 nautical miles

3000 meter 2500 meter isobath 3500 meter 80˚00’ Yermak BARENTS Land boundaries between states 4000 meter Plateau Boundary between 200 nautical mile 4500 meter SEA 75˚00’ zones of Mainland Norway and around Svalbard 5000 meter

5500 meter

Land Svalbard Continental shelf outer limit points Norwegian territory 60 nautical mile distance criterion

Sediment thickness criterion Land, undifferentiated Knipovich Ridge Loop Greenland Hole Point of the Russian Federation 75˚00’ 70˚00’

GREENLAND SEA Bjørnøya

65˚00’

70˚00’

Mohns Ridge

Jan Mayen

60˚00’ NORWEGIAN 50˚00’ Lofoten Jan Mayen Fracture Zone SEA Basin Iceland SEAVøring Spur

Jan Mayen Micro Continent Banana Hole Plateau Banana Hole 65˚00’ 45˚00’

Vøring Russian Federation Norway Plateau Basin 40˚00’ Iceland

Finland 35˚00’

60˚00’ 30˚00’ 30˚00’ Storegga Sweden Submitted by Norway to the CLCS in 2006 Faroe 25˚00’ 25˚00’ Outline of the outer limits of the continental shelf submitted for areas in the Arctic Ocean, the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea 20˚00’ Islands 20˚00’ Shetland Polar Stereograpic - Latitude true scale 75˚N 15˚00’ 15˚00’ Bathymetry: ETOPO2 data from NGDC data base Mainland Norway 0 100 200 300 400 500 km Coastline: GSHHS data from NGDC data base 10˚00’ 10˚00’ Contour interval: 500m 5˚00’ 5˚00’ 0˚00’ ©Continental Oljedirektoratet Shelf 2006 Submission of Norway 2 ISBNExecutive 82-7257-658-9 Summary Executive Summary

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 3 Executive Summary Contents

1. Introduction 6

2. Maritime areas, maps and coordinates 6

3. Commission members who provided advice during the preparation of the submission 9

4. Provisions of article 76 invoked in support of the submission 9

5. General description of the continental margins 9

6. Maritime delimitations and other issues 11

7. Area-by-area overview 12

Appendix 1. Coordinates and Information on the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf 19

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 4 Executive Summary List of ﬁ gures

Fig. 1. Overview of the three maritime areas beyond 200 nautical miles in the Arctic Ocean, the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea.

Fig. 2. Outline of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the Arctic Ocean, the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea.

Fig. 3. Three-dimensional map of parts of the North East Atlantic and the adjacent Barents Sea and Arctic Ocean.

Fig. 4. The continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the Loop Hole in the Barents Sea.

Fig. 5. Airguns with depressor for acquiring seismic data by icebreaker “Oden” in the Nansen Basin. Technical solution tailor-made by the University of Bergen.

Fig. 6. The outer limit of the continental shelf in the Western Nansen Basin.

Fig. 7. The outer limit of the continental shelf in the Banana Hole.

Fig. 8. The research vessel “G.O. Sars” of Bergen acquiring bathymetric data in the Norwegian Sea (Photo: Harald M. Valderhaug).

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 5 Executive Summary 1. Introduction The preparation of the present submission be- gan after Norway’s ratifi cation of the Conven- Norway signed the 1982 United Nations Con- tion in 1996. Since then, acquisition of seismic vention on the Law of the Sea (hereinafter and bathymetric data, and processing, analysis the Convention) on the day it was opened for and interpretation of data have continued until signature and ratifi ed it on 24 June 1996. It this year. The preparation has been carried out entered into force for Norway on 24 July 1996. by the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, an independent agency under the Royal Ministry This submission fulfi ls the obligation Norway of Petroleum and Energy. The Directorate is has under article 76 and article 4 of Annex II Norway’s expert body for offshore geology of the Convention to submit information on the and geophysics. Various other agencies and outer limits of its continental shelf beyond 200 institutions, including in particular the Norwe- nautical miles from the baselines from which gian Mapping Authority, the Norwegian Polar the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, Institute and the Universities of Bergen and in respect of areas in the Arctic Ocean, the Oslo have also made scientifi c or other con- Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea. tributions to the submission. The preparation of the submission has been undertaken under The rights of the coastal State over the con- the direction of the Royal Ministry of Foreign tinental shelf exist ipso facto and ab initio, as Affairs. refl ected in article 77 of the Convention.

By Royal Decree of 31 May 1963 Norway proclaimed sovereign rights over the seabed and subsoil outside the coast of the Kingdom of Norway as regards exploitation and explora- 2. Maritime areas, maps and tion of natural deposits, to such extent as the coordinates depth of the sea permits the exploitation of such deposits. This defi nition of the continen- The data and information contained in this tal shelf was restated in Act No. 12 of 21 June submission are intended to enable the estab- 1963 relating to the exploration for and exploi- lishment of the outer limits of the continental tation of submarine natural resources. Later, shelf where those limits extend beyond 200 Act No. 11 of 22 March 1985 pertaining to pe- nautical miles from the baselines in three troleum activities specifi ed that the continental separate maritime areas in the North East shelf comprises the seabed and subsoil beyond Atlantic and the Arctic. These are described in the territorial sea, as far as it may be deemed this submission as: to be the natural prolongation of Norwegian land territory, but no less than 200 nautical 1. the Loop Hole in the Barents Sea miles from the baselines. The current defi nition 2. the Western Nansen Basin in the Arctic is contained in Act of 29 November 1996 No. Ocean; and 72 relating to petroleum activities, and builds 3. the Banana Hole in the Norwegian Sea. on article 76 of the Convention. It refers to the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas The present submission deals only with the that extend beyond the Norwegian territorial outer limits of the continental shelf in these sea, throughout the natural prolongation of the three areas (see Fig. 1). A further submission Norwegian land territory to the outer edge of may be made in respect of other areas. the continental margin, but no less than 200 nautical miles from the baselines. Five maps are included in this executive sum-

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 6 Executive Summary Fig. 1. 60˚00’ 30˚00’ Land Water depth of maritime the three Overview areas beyond and 200 the Norwegian Sea. nautical Ocean, Sea miles the Barents in the Arctic 65˚00’ 25˚00’ Land, undifferentiated Norwegian territory 5500 meter 5000 meter 4500 meter 4000 meter 3500 meter 3000 meter 2500 meter 2000 meter 1500 meter 1000 meter 500 meter 0 meter 70˚00’ 20˚00’ Iceland 75˚00’ 15˚00’

Greenland 80˚00’ 10˚00’ Plateau Iceland Islands Faroe

Jan Jan Mayen Mayen 85˚00’ Micro Co 5˚00’ ntinent GREENLAND GREENLAND 30˚00’ 25˚00’ SEA SEA NORWEGIAN NORWEGIAN

20˚00’ Shetland Jan Mayen Fracture Zone Fracture Mayen Jan 15˚00’ Basin Norway 10˚00’ SEA SEA 5˚00’

Vøring Spur Vøring Mohns Ridge 0˚00’ 0˚00’ 5˚00’

Yerma 10˚00’

Plateau Banana HHole Ridge Knipovich Western 15˚00’ k Western Plateau Vøring 20˚00’ Basin Lofoten Storeg ole NansenNansen BasinBasin ga 25˚00’ 30˚00’ 5˚00’ 35˚00’ 40˚00’ 45˚00’ 50˚00’ Svalbard

Mai 85˚00’ nland Norway Bjørnøya 10˚00’ Sweden BARENTS BARENTS 15˚00’ SEA SEA 80˚00’ Hole Loop Hole Loop 20˚00’ 0 0 0 0 500 km 400 300 200 100 0 75˚00’ Finland 25˚00’ Russian Federation 30˚00’ 70˚00’ 35˚00’ 40˚00’ 65˚00’ nautical miles Outline of areas beyond 200 Svalbard zones of Mainland Norway and around Boundary between 200 nautical mile Land boundaries between states 2500 meter isobath Federation Norway and the Russian Computed median line between Norway and other states Bilateral maritime boundaries between 200 nautical mile limits of other states 200 nautical mile limit of Norway 45˚00’

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 50˚00’ 7 Executive Summary 60˚00’ 60˚00’ 50˚00’ 45˚00’ 200 nautical mile limit of Norway 200 nautical mile limits of other states Bilateral maritime boundaries between Norway and other states Computed median line between Norway and the Russian Federation Preliminary line connecting continental shelf outer limit points of Norway and the Russian Federation Outer limit of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles 2500 meter isobath Land boundaries between states Boundary between 200 nautical mile zones of Mainland Norway and around Svalbard 65˚00’ 40˚00’ 60 nautical mile distance criterion Sediment thickness criterion Point of the Russian Federation Continental shelf outer limit points 35˚00’ 70˚00’ 30˚00’ Russian Federation 25˚00’ Finland 75˚00’ 0 100 200 300 400 km 500 20˚00’ Loop Hole Loop Hole 80˚00’ SEA SEA 15˚00’ BARENTS BARENTS

Sweden y 10˚00’

Bjørnøya Mainland Norwa Mainland 85˚00’ Svalbard 50˚00’ 45˚00’ 40˚00’

35˚00’

5˚00’

30˚00’ Basin Nansen

25˚00’ Western Storegga

Lofoten Basin 20˚00’ Vøring Plateau

15˚00’

Knipovich Ridge Hole ana

Plateau Ban Banana Hol Banana 10˚00’ Yerma 5˚00’

ng Spur

0˚00’ 0˚00’ Mohns Ridge Mohns Vøri 5˚00’ SEA SEA 10˚00’ Norway Basin

15˚00’ Jan Mayen Fracture Zone Shetland 20˚00’ NORWEGIAN NORWEGIAN SEA SEA 25˚00’

30˚00’ GREENLAND GREENLAND ntinent

Co 5˚00’ Micro

85˚00’ Jan Mayen Mayen Jan Faroe Islands Iceland Plateau

10˚00’

80˚00’ Greenland 15˚00’ 75˚00’ Iceland 20˚00’ 70˚00’ Continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles 2500 meter 3000 meter 3500 meter 4000 meter 4500 meter 5000 meter 5500 meter Norwegian territory Land, undifferentiated 0 meter 500 meter 1000 meter 1500 meter 2000 meter 25˚00’ 65˚00’ Outline of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the Arctic in the Barents miles Sea nautical Ocean, Sea. the Norwegian 200 and shelf beyond the continental of Outline Water depth Land 30˚00’ 60˚00’ Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 8 Fig. 2. Executive Summary mary. Two overview maps respectively show 5. General description of the the maritime areas concerned (Fig. 1) and the continental margins outer limits of the continental shelf (Fig. 2). The three remaining maps are designed to give de- tailed views of the continental shelf in the three In geological and geomorphological terms, the areas. continental margins of the North East Atlantic and the Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean are Appendix 1 contains lists of the coordinates of part of the same continuous continental margin, the fi xed points used to defi ne the outer limits i.e. the Eurasian Continental Margin. This mar- of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical gin includes areas of shelf and slope separating miles, the distance in nautical miles between the land areas from the abyssal plains of the adjacent points and the provision of article 76 North East Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean, and on which each point is based. along it one fi nds the coasts of various Euro- pean coastal states, including Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway and the Russian Federation. Several of these States’ territories include islands in shelf 3. Commission members who areas distant from the mainland, such as the provided advice during the Shetlands (United Kingdom), Svalbard (Nor- preparation of the submission way), Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya and Severnaya Zemlya (Russian Federation). Norway was assisted in the preparation of the submission by Mr. Harald Brekke, member of The parts of the continental margin that are the Commission (1997-present). No advice was appurtenant to Norway in the three areas with provided by any other member of the Commis- which this submission is concerned are all situ- sion. ated north of the Iceland-Faroe Ridge. In geological terms, the continental margin in these areas has two parts, as can be seen in Fig 3.

4. Provisions of article 76 invoked The largest is part of the Eurasian Continental in support of the submission Margin as described above. It consists of the continental margin adjacent to Mainland Nor- Norway invokes the provisions of paragraphs 1, way and the Svalbard Archipelago, and extends 3 and 4 of article 76 in support of the establish- from the North Sea in the south, through the ment of the outer limits of the continental shelf Norwegian and Greenland Seas, into the Eura- beyond 200 nautical miles, based on the con- sian Basin of the Arctic Ocean in the north. It siderations outlined in section 5 and as speci- is continuous along its entire length in terms of ﬁ ed for each area in section 7 below. Both the both morphology and geology. “Hedberg” and “Gardiner” formulae lines have been used in this submission. The outer limits The other part is the continental margin sur- of the continental shelf have been delineated rounding the island of Jan Mayen situated by ﬁ xed points connected by straight lines not in the middle of the North East Atlantic. Jan longer than 60 nautical miles as provided in Mayen represents a special case as it is, in article 76, paragraph 7. geological terms, part of its own small continent. Over time, this micro-continent has been

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 9 Executive Summary Fig. 3. Three-dimensional map of parts of the North East Atlantic and the adjacent Barents Sea and Arctic Ocean. separated from both the American and Eura- geological terms, the Jan Mayen Micro-Conti- sian Continents by seaﬂ oor spreading. It has nent constitutes the eastern part of the Iceland all the characteristic morphological elements Plateau, possibly as far south as the Iceland- of a continent, consisting of an emergent land Faroe Ridge. area based on continental crust, and having a continental margin comprised of shelf, slope The eastern continental slope of the Jan Mayen and rise. These elements are distinct and easily Micro-Continent is morphologically continuous identiﬁ ed in the north and east. In the west and with the continental slope of Mainland Norway, south, however, the Jan Mayen Micro-Continent as it is bridged by the eastern slope of the in morphological terms merges with the Iceland Iceland Plateau and the northern slope of the Plateau and the Iceland-Faroe Ridge (Fig. 3). In Iceland-Faroe Ridge (Fig. 3).

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 10 Executive Summary 6. Maritime delimitations and submits documentation to the Commission, the other issues other States will notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations in accordance with the Com- mission’s rules of procedure that they do not Some unresolved questions remain in relation object to the Commission considering the docu- to bilateral delimitation of the continental shelf mentation and making recommendations on with neighbouring States. These questions have this basis. Such recommendations are without to be considered by reference to Rule 46 and prejudice to the submission of documentation Annex I of the Rules of Procedure of the Com- by these States at a later stage or to the ques- mission. The States in question are Denmark, tion of bilateral delimitations of the continental in respect of both the Faroe Islands and Green- shelf between these States. land, Iceland and the Russian Federation. The ﬁ nal delimitation lines will have to be deter- 6.1 Southern Banana Hole mined through bilateral agreements. These will The maritime area beyond 200 nautical miles be concluded after the Commission has consid- from the baselines of Mainland Norway, the ered the documentation submitted by the three Faroes, Iceland, Jan Mayen, Greenland and States and made its recommendations. Svalbard is referred to as the Banana Hole in the submission. The Banana Hole encompasses In accordance with the Agreed Minutes, Norway parts of the Norway Basin, the Lofoten Basin is requesting that the Commission consider the and the Greenland Sea. documentation in this submission relating to the southern part of the Banana Hole and make its It is expected that Iceland and Denmark/the recommendation on the basis of this documen- Faroe Islands will document continental shelf tation, without prejudice to the submission at extending beyond 200 nautical miles in the a later stage of documentation by Iceland and southern part of the Banana Hole and that Denmark/the Faroe Islands or to the delimita- these two States and Norway will have overlap- tion of the continental shelf between the three ping claims in this area. States. This request has been agreed between the three States concerned. On 20 September 2006 following expert consultations, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, the Minister for Foreign Af- 6.2. Maritime areas between Svalbard and fairs of the Kingdom of Denmark together with Greenland the Prime Minister of the Government of the On 20 February 2006 Norway and Denmark Faroes and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of together with Greenland signed an Agreement Iceland signed Agreed Minutes that set out an concerning the delimitation of the continental agreed procedure for determining future delimi- shelf and the ﬁ sheries zones in the area between tation lines in the southern part of the Banana Greenland and Svalbard. The agreement entered Hole. The agreed procedure is without prejudice into force on 2 June 2006. In the agreement’s to the work of the Commission. preamble, the parties expressed their intention to revert to the delimitation of the continental According to the Agreed Minutes each State shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in connection will, when submitting its documentation con- with the establishment of its outer limits. Such cerning the outer limits of its continental shelf in delimitation may be required north and/or south the southern part of the Banana Hole, request of the agreed delimitation line. that the Commission consider it and make its recommendations on this basis. When one State The Government of Denmark together with the

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 11 Executive Summary Greenland Home Rule Government have indi- retary-General’s report Oceans and the law of cated to Norway that they have no objection to the Sea contained in doc. A/57/57/Add. 1, dated the Commission considering and making recom- 8 October 2002, which sets out in paragraphs mendations on this part of the submission. Such 38 and 39 the recommendations of the Com- consideration and recommendation will be with- mission in this regard. The delimitation line will out prejudice to any future delimitation. represent the western boundary of the continental shelf of the Russian Federation, as well 6.3 Maritime areas between Norway and the as the eastern boundary of the continental shelf Russian Federation of Norway extending beyond 200 nautical miles The maritime areas between Norway and the in the Barents Sea. The recommendation of the Russian Federation are the object of bilat- Commission is without prejudice to the bilateral eral delimitation consultations. These areas delimitation. comprise continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the Loop Hole in the Barents Sea b) In the communication dated 20 March 2002 and in the Western Nansen Basin in the Arctic referred to above (notiﬁ cation CLCS.01.2001. Ocean. LOS/NOR), Norway described the eastern part of the Western Nansen Basin area as also being a) Reference is made to the communication by the object of the aforementioned bilateral nego- Norway to the Secretary-General of the United tiations with the Russian Federation with a view Nations on 20 March 2002 referring to the sub- to concluding a maritime boundary agreement mission made by the Russian Federation on 20 between the two States. December 2001 (see notiﬁ cation CLCS.01.2001. LOS/NOR), with regard to these areas. The Government of the Russian Federation has indicated to Norway that it has no objection to In that communication Norway referred to the the Commission considering and making rec- sizeable area in the central Barents Sea beyond ommendations on this part of the submission, 200 nautical miles from the baselines of Nor- without prejudice to any future delimitation. way and the Russian Federation (the so-called “Loop Hole”). In accordance with rule 5 (a) of Annex I of the Rules of Procedure of the Com- mission, Norway consented to the Commission considering and making recommendations on 7. Area-by-area over view the basis of the Russian submission with regard to that area, without prejudice to the bilateral 7.1. The Loop Hole in the Barents Sea delimitation of the continental shelf between The Loop Hole is located in an area of shallow Norway and the Russian Federation, and on the waters in the Barents Sea (Fig. 4). It is entirely understandings referred to in the said commu- situated landward of both the foot of the con- nication. tinental slope and the 2500 meters isobath, which is a line connecting the depth of 2500 The Commission has subsequently recom- metres. With reference to the applicable rules mended, in the case of the Loop Hole in the contained in article 76, paragraphs 3-5, of the Barents Sea, to transmit to the Commission, Convention, Norway observes (see 6.3 above) upon entry into force of the maritime boundary that the area may be considered as being part agreement between Norway and the Russian of the continental shelf still to be delimited by Federation, the charts and coordinates of the these two States as already recommended by delimitation line. Reference is made to the Sec- the Commission.

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 12 Executive Summary 30˚00’ 35˚00’ 40˚00’ 45˚00’ 50˚00’

Kvitøya

BARENTS 200

200 80˚00’ 200 SEA

200 Kong Karls Land 200

200

300

200

300 Svalbard 200

Hopen Loop

200

300 300 200 Hole

300

200

300

75˚00’ Bjørnøya

200

300

200 400

400

300 70˚00’

300

400

300 300 200 Russian 500 Mainland Norway Federation 15˚00’ 20˚00’ 25˚00’ 30˚00’ 35˚00’

Continental shelf 200 nautical mile limit of Norway 0 50 100 150 200 250 km beyond 200 nautical 200 nautical mile limit of the Russian Federation Polar stereographic - Latitude true scale 75˚N miles Territorial sea boundary between Norway and the Russian Federation Norwegian territory Norwegian baseline Boundary between 200 nautical mile Computed median line between zones of Mainland Norway and around Norway and the Russian Federation Land, undifferentiated Svalbard

Fig. 4. The continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the Loop Hole in the Barents Sea.

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 13 Executive Summary 7.2. The Western Nansen Basin in the Arctic The 94 fi xed points are connected by straight lines Ocean not exceeding 60 nautical miles in length as provid- The Nansen Basin is bounded to the north by ed in article 76, paragraph 7. The fi xed points and the Gakkel Ridge, which is the only active oce- connecting lines are shown in Fig. 6. A colour code anic spreading ridge in the Arctic Ocean. The has been used to indicate under which article 76 southern fl ank of the basin consists of parts criterion each point has been established. (Further of the continental slope of Norway (includ- details can be found in Appendix 1). ing Svalbard) and of the Russian Federation (including Franz Josef Land). This continental The connecting limits with the neighbouring State margin was formed by the rifting and break-up in the eastern and western parts of the Western of the continent prior to the onset of seafl oor Nansen Basin are dealt with separately below. spreading in early Tertiary times. It constitutes the submerged prolongation of the land mass of Norway in accordance with paragraph 3 of 7.2.1. The Western Nansen Basin, eastern Part article 76. To the east, the outer limit of the continental shelf connects with the outer limit of the Russian conti- The outer limit of the continental shelf beyond nental shelf. The part of the continental shelf that is 200 nautical miles in this area is defi ned by located east of 32 degrees 03 minutes 55 seconds 94 fi xed points established in accordance with East, and up to the median line, is the object of article 76. These are as follows: overlapping claims by Norway and the Russian Fed- eration, indicated under 6.3 b) above. - 2 points defi ned by the sediment thickness formula contained in article 76, The easternmost fi xed formula point on the outer paragraph 4(a)(i); and limit of the continental shelf in this area included in the present submission is situated west of the - 92 points defi ned by arcs 60 nautical “disputed area”, as described with coordinates in miles from the foot of the continental the communication dated 20 March 2002 referred to slope in accordance with article 76, above (notifi cation CLCS.01.2001.LOS/NOR). paragraph 4(a)(ii). By agreement between Norway and the Russian Federation, this easternmost fi xed formula point of the outer limit of the Norwegian continental shelf will be connected to a westernmost fi xed formula point of the outer limit of the Russian Federation to be established on the basis of the relevant recommendations of the Commission, by a straight line not exceeding 60 nautical miles in length. The westernmost fi xed point here referred to has not yet been published and is to be considered by the Com- mission on the basis of information to be provided by the Russian Federation. Therefore, the preliminary connecting line in Figs. 2 and 6 is indicated by Norway for illustration purposes only. Norway and the Russian Federation have agreed that a recom- Fig. 5. Airguns with depressor for acquiring seismic mendation by the Commission with regard to the data used by the icebreaker “Oden” in the Nansen latter two fi xed points will not prejudice the bilateral Basin. Technical solution tailor-made by the University of Bergen.

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 14 Executive Summary AO1

85˚00’ AO2

3500 - -3500 A03

4000 4 - -

AO94AO9 - - 2000

3000 3500 Western 3000 3500 3000 Nansen Basin

3000

3500

4000 1000

500 1500

3500 1500

2000 80˚00’

2000 3000 1000 2000 Kvitøya

3500

1000

1500

1000

1500

2000

500 3000 Yermak

Plateau Nordaustlandet

80˚00’ Kong Karls Land

1000

3000 Spitsbergen

500

0˚00’ 5˚00’ 10˚00’ 15˚00’ 20˚00’ 25˚00’ 30˚00’

200 nautical mile limit of Norway Outer limit of the continental shelf beyond Continental shelf 200 nautical miles 200 nautical mile limits of other states beyond 200 nautical Preliminary line connecting continental shelf miles Bilateral maritime boundary between outer limit points of Norway and the Russian Norway and Greenland Federation Norwegian territory 2500 meter isobath Continental shelf outer limit points 020406080100 km Norwegian baseline 60 nautical mile distance criterion Computed median line between Sediment thickness criterion Polar stereographic - Latitude true scale 75˚N Point of the Russian Federation Norway and the Russian Federation

Fig. 6. The outer limit of the continental shelf in the Western Nansen Basin.

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 15 Executive Summary delimitation of the continental shelf between Further details of the establishment of the outer the two parties. limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles are given below in relation to each Reference is made to the list of coordinates of of two sub-areas of the Banana Hole (see also the ﬁ xed points contained in Appendix 1. Appendix 1). These sub-areas are:

1. the Lofoten Basin and the Greenland Sea 7.2.2. The Western Nansen Basin, western 2. the Norway Basin. Part The westernmost ﬁ xed point of the outer limit of the Norwegian continental shelf is estab- 7.3.1. The Lofoten Basin and Greenland Sea lished on the 200 nautical miles line of Green- The Lofoten Basin is bounded in the south by land at the distance of 60 nautical miles from the continental slopes of the Vøring Plateau and the westernmost foot of the continental slope the shallow shelf of the Norwegian Sea, in the point submitted by Norway (Fig. 6). east by the continental slope of the Barents Sea shallow shelf, in the north by the Mohns Ridge, Reference is made to the list of coordinates of and in the southwest by the Jan Mayen Frac- the ﬁ xed points contained in Appendix 1. ture Zone (Fig. 7).

The outer edge of the continental margin ex- 7.3. The Banana Hole in the Norwegian and tending from Mainland Norway into the Lofoten Greenland Seas Basin partly overlaps the 200 nautical miles The continental margins of Norway extend into limit of Jan Mayen, and partly extends into the the Norway Basin, the Lofoten Basin and the Greenland Sea north of the Mohns Ridge. Greenland Sea. They extend from the landmasses of Mainland Norway and Svalbard in the The outer limit of the continental shelf beyond east, and from the landmass of Jan Mayen in 200 nautical miles in this area is defi ned by 14 the west. The inner parts of the eastern conti- fi xed points defi ned by arcs 60 nautical miles nental margin are dominated by shallow shelf from the foot of the continental slope in accord- areas of up to 400 metres’ water depth, while ance with article 76, paragraph 4(a)(ii). One of its outer parts are characterised by a complex these points is located where the outer limit continental slope that encompasses major pla- line joins the 200 nautical miles limit line of Jan teaus and ridges. The continental margins were Mayen and another is located where the outer formed by continental rifting, break-up and sub- limit line joins the 200 nautical miles limit line of sequent seafl oor spreading in Late Palaeocene Svalbard. to Early Eocene times. The 14 fi xed points are connected by straight The continental shelf in the southern and mid- lines not exceeding 60 nautical miles in length dle parts of the Banana Hole covers the entire as provided in article 76, paragraph 7. Fig. 7 area beyond 200 nautical miles from the sur- shows the fi xed points and connecting lines. rounding coasts. To the north, the outer limit of A colour code indicates the article 76 criterion the continental shelf is established by straight used to establish them (see also Appendix 1). lines connecting fi xed points, in accordance with article 76, paragraphs 4 and 7.

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 16 Executive Summary 25˚00’ 20˚00’ 15˚00’ 10˚00’ 5˚00’ 0˚00’ 5˚00’ 10˚00’ 15˚00’ 20˚00’ 25˚00’

Knipovich Ridge Spitsbergen

Greenland 75˚00’ 75˚00’ GREENLAND

3500

Bjørnøya SEA 3000

3000

2000 GS13000

3500

1500 3-GS2 3000 GS1GS13-GS2

3000 GS14 5001000

1000 1500 500

2000

1500 Mohns Ridge

2000

70˚00’ 70˚00’ 1000 Jan Mayen 2000 3000 3000

1500 3000 NORWEGIAN Lofoten Jan Ma SEA Basin Iceland Continent yen

Mayen Vøring Spur Fracture Zone 3500 2000 1500 Jan Micro

3000 2000 2000 BananaBanana HoleHole 1500 500 Plateau 1000

3500

1500 Vøring

3500

Norway 3000 Plateau

1500 Basin

2000 Iceland 3000

65˚00’ 65˚00’

1000

1500 2000

3000

500

1000

500 Storegga 1500 2000 Faroe 0 Mainland Norway Islands 100 10˚00’ 5˚00’ 0˚00’ 5˚00’ 10˚00’

200 nautical mile limit of Norway Continental shelf Outer limit of the continental shelf beyond beyond 200 nautical 200 nautical mile limits of other states 200 nautical miles miles Bilateral maritime boundaries between 2500 meter isobath 0 50 100 150 200 250 km Norway and other states Norwegian territory Norwegian baseline Boundary between 200 nautical mile Continental shelf outer limit points zones of Mainland Norway and around Land, undifferentiated 60 nautical mile distance criterion Polar stereographic - Latitude true scale 75˚N Svalbard

Fig. 7. The outer limit of the continental shelf in the Banana Hole.

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 17 Executive Summary 7.3.2. The Norway Basin - arcs 60 nautical miles from the foot of the The Norway Basin is bounded to the east by the continental slope in accordance with article continental slopes of Storegga and the Vøring Pla- 76, paragraph 4(a)(ii); and teau, to the north by the Vøring Spur and the Jan Mayen Fracture Zone, to the west by the continen- - straight lines in accordance with article 76, tal slopes of the Jan Mayen Micro-Continent and paragraph 7. the Iceland Plateau, and to the south by the continental slope of the Faroe Islands. When these provisions are applied, it becomes clear that the continental margins extending south-east- The extent of the continental shelf in the Norway wards from Jan Mayen and westwards from Main- Basin is determined by reference to the outer edge land Norway, overlap and completely cover the area of the continental margins, which have been es- beyond the 200 nautical miles limits of Iceland and tablished as the submerged prolongations of the the Faroe Islands (Denmark). landmasses of Jan Mayen and Mainland Norway. Thus, the continental shelf in the Norway Basin cov- The outer edge of Norway’s continental margins in ers the entire area beyond the 200 nautical miles the Norway Basin is established by applying: limits of Mainland Norway, the Faroe Islands, Ice- land and Jan Mayen (Fig. 7). The issue of delimita- - the sediment thickness formula contained in tion is dealt with under 6.1 above. article 76, paragraph 4(a)(i)

Fig. 8. The research vessel “G.O. Sars” of Bergen acquiring bathymetric data in the Norwegian Sea (Photo: Harald M. Valderhaug).

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 18 Executive Summary Appendix 1

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 19 Executive Summary Coordinates and Information on the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf Outer Latitude Longitude Latitude Longitude Distance Article 76 Limit to Region Point Type Provision Fixed Next Deg Min Sec Deg Min Sec Deg Deg Invoked Point Point The Loop Hole in the Barents Sea (BS) The continental shelf in the Loop Hole covers the entire area beyond the 200 nautical miles limits of Norway and the Russian Federation. Western Nansen Basin in the Arctic Ocean (AO) AO1 Sediment Point 84 41 53.0 29 15 12.7 84.698051 29.253527 83612.9m 76.4(a)(i) AO2 Sediment Point 84 25 59.02 21 51 12.38 84.43306 21.853439 93209.4m 76.4(a)(i) AO3 60M Dist Point 84 21 21.5 13 20 17.86 84.355973 13.338295 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO4 60M Dist Point 84 21 16 13 14 54.98 84.354445 13.248606 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO5 60M Dist Point 84 21 10.17 13 9 32.8 84.352824 13.15911 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO6 60M Dist Point 84 21 4 13 4 11.35 84.35111 13.069819 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO7 60M Dist Point 84 20 57.49 12 58 50.68 84.349304 12.980745 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO8 60M Dist Point 84 20 50.66 12 53 30.83 84.347405 12.891898 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO9 60M Dist Point 84 20 43.49 12 48 11.84 84.345414 12.803289 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO10 60M Dist Point 84 20 35.99 12 42 53.75 84.343331 12.71493 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO11 60M Dist Point 84 20 28.16 12 37 36.6 84.341156 12.626832 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO12 60M Dist Point 84 20 20.01 12 32 20.42 84.338891 12.539005 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO13 60M Dist Point 84 20 11.52 12 27 5.26 84.336534 12.45146 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO14 60M Dist Point 84 20 2.71 12 21 51.15 84.334086 12.364208 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO15 60M Dist Point 84 19 53.58 12 16 38.14 84.331549 12.27726 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO16 60M Dist Point 84 19 44.12 12 11 26.25 84.328921 12.190626 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO17 60M Dist Point 84 19 34.33 12 6 15.54 84.326203 12.104316 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO18 60M Dist Point 84 19 24.23 12 1 6.03 84.323396 12.018342 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO19 60M Dist Point 84 19 13.8 11 55 57.77 84.3205 11.932713 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO20 60M Dist Point 84 19 3.05 11 50 50.78 84.317515 11.847439 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO21 60M Dist Point 84 18 51.99 11 45 45.11 84.314442 11.762531 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO22 60M Dist Point 84 18 40.61 11 40 40.79 84.311281 11.677998 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO23 60M Dist Point 84 18 28.92 11 35 37.87 84.308033 11.593852 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO24 60M Dist Point 84 18 16.91 11 30 36.36 84.304697 11.5101 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO25 60M Dist Point 84 18 4.59 11 25 36.31 84.301275 11.426754 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO26 60M Dist Point 84 17 51.96 11 20 37.76 84.297767 11.343822 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO27 60M Dist Point 84 17 39.02 11 15 40.73 84.294173 11.261315 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO28 60M Dist Point 84 17 25.77 11 10 45.27 84.290493 11.179242 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO29 60M Dist Point 84 17 12.22 11 5 51.4 84.286729 11.097611 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO30 60M Dist Point 84 16 58.37 11 0 59.16 84.282881 11.016433 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO31 60M Dist Point 84 16 44.21 10 56 8.58 84.278948 10.935716 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO32 60M Dist Point 84 16 29.76 10 51 19.69 84.274932 10.855469 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO33 60M Dist Point 84 16 15 10 46 32.52 84.270833 10.775701 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO34 60M Dist Point 84 15 59.95 10 41 47.11 84.266652 10.69642 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO35 60M Dist Point 84 15 44.6 10 37 3.49 84.262389 10.617636 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO36 60M Dist Point 84 15 28.96 10 32 21.69 84.258044 10.539357 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO37 60M Dist Point 84 15 13.03 10 27 41.73 84.253619 10.461591 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO38 60M Dist Point 84 14 56.81 10 23 3.65 84.249113 10.384346 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO39 60M Dist Point 84 14 40.3 10 18 27.47 84.244528 10.307631 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO40 60M Dist Point 84 14 23.51 10 13 53.23 84.239863 10.231453 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO41 60M Dist Point 84 14 6.43 10 9 20.95 84.23512 10.15582 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO42 60M Dist Point 84 13 49.08 10 4 50.66 84.230299 10.08074 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii)

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 20 Executive Summary AO43 60M Dist Point 84 13 31.44 10 0 22.4 84.225401 10.006221 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO44 60M Dist Point 84 13 13.53 9 55 56.17 84.220425 9.93227 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO45 60M Dist Point 84 12 55.34 9 51 32.02 84.215373 9.858894 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO46 60M Dist Point 84 12 36.89 9 47 9.96 84.210246 9.786101 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO47 60M Dist Point 84 12 18.16 9 42 50.03 84.205044 9.713897 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO48 60M Dist Point 84 11 59.16 9 38 32.24 84.199767 9.64229 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO49 60M Dist Point 84 11 39.9 9 34 16.63 84.194417 9.571286 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO50 60M Dist Point 84 11 20.37 9 30 3.21 84.188993 9.500892 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO51 60M Dist Point 84 11 0.59 9 25 52.01 84.183497 9.431114 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO52 60M Dist Point 84 10 40.54 9 21 43.05 84.177929 9.361959 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO53 60M Dist Point 84 10 20.24 9 17 36.36 84.17229 9.293434 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO54 60M Dist Point 84 9 59.69 9 13 31.95 84.16658 9.225543 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO55 60M Dist Point 84 9 38.88 9 9 29.86 84.1608 9.158294 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO56 60M Dist Point 84 9 17.82 9 5 30.09 84.154951 9.091692 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO57 60M Dist Point 84 8 56.52 9 1 32.67 84.149034 9.025742 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO58 60M Dist Point 84 8 34.98 8 57 37.62 84.143049 8.960451 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO59 60M Dist Point 84 8 13.19 8 53 44.97 84.136997 8.895824 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO60 60M Dist Point 84 7 51.16 8 49 54.71 84.130878 8.831865 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO61 60M Dist Point 84 7 28.9 8 46 6.89 84.124694 8.768581 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO62 60M Dist Point 84 7 6.4 8 42 21.51 84.118444 8.705976 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO63 60M Dist Point 84 6 43.67 8 38 38.6 84.112131 8.644055 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO64 60M Dist Point 84 6 20.71 8 34 58.16 84.105753 8.582823 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO65 60M Dist Point 84 5 57.53 8 31 20.22 84.099313 8.522284 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO66 60M Dist Point 84 5 34.12 8 27 44.79 84.092811 8.462443 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO67 60M Dist Point 84 5 10.49 8 24 11.9 84.086247 8.403305 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO68 60M Dist Point 84 4 46.64 8 20 41.54 84.079623 8.344872 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO69 60M Dist Point 84 4 22.58 8 17 13.74 84.072938 8.287151 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO70 60M Dist Point 84 3 58.3 8 13 48.52 84.066195 8.230144 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO71 60M Dist Point 84 3 33.81 8 10 25.88 84.059393 8.173855 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO72 60M Dist Point 84 3 9.12 8 7 5.84 84.052533 8.118289 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO73 60M Dist Point 84 2 44.22 8 3 48.41 84.045616 8.063448 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO74 60M Dist Point 84 2 19.11 8 0 33.61 84.038643 8.009336 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO75 60M Dist Point 84 1 53.81 7 57 21.44 84.031615 7.955956 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO76 60M Dist Point 84 1 28.31 7 54 11.92 84.024531 7.903312 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO77 60M Dist Point 84 1 2.62 7 51 5.06 84.017395 7.851406 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO78 60M Dist Point 84 0 36.73 7 48 0.87 84.010204 7.800241 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO79 60M Dist Point 84 0 10.66 7 44 59.36 84.002962 7.749821 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO80 60M Dist Point 83 59 44.4 7 42 0.53 83.995668 7.700147 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO81 60M Dist Point 83 59 17.96 7 39 4.4 83.988323 7.651223 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO82 60M Dist Point 83 58 51.34 7 36 10.98 83.980928 7.603051 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO83 60M Dist Point 83 58 24.54 7 33 20.28 83.973484 7.555633 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO84 60M Dist Point 83 57 57.57 7 30 32.29 83.965991 7.50897 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO85 60M Dist Point 83 57 30.42 7 27 47.04 83.95845 7.463067 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO86 60M Dist Point 83 57 3.11 7 25 4.52 83.950863 7.417923 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO87 60M Dist Point 83 56 35.63 7 22 24.75 83.94323 7.373541 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO88 60M Dist Point 83 56 7.98 7 19 47.72 83.935551 7.329923 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO89 60M Dist Point 83 55 40.18 7 17 13.46 83.927828 7.287071 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO90 60M Dist Point 83 55 12.22 7 14 41.95 83.920061 7.244985 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO91 60M Dist Point 83 54 44.1 7 12 13.2 83.912251 7.203667 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO92 60M Dist Point 83 54 15.84 7 9 47.22 83.904399 7.163118 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) AO93 60M Dist Point 83 53 47.42 7 7 24.02 83.896505 7.12334 201.7m 76.4(a)(ii) 76.4(a)(ii) on AO94 60M Dist Point 83 53 41.67 7 6 55.45 83.894909 7.115402 N.A. 200M line

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 21 Executive Summary Greenland Sea (GS) 76.4(a)(ii) on GS1 60M Dist Point 74 33 50.26 5 35 1.08 74.563961 5.583633 111120.0m 200M line GS2 60M Dist Point 73 47 54.27 3 14 56.15 73.798409 3.24893 717.7m 76.4(a)(ii) GS3 60M Dist Point 73 47 44.12 3 13 41.62 73.79559 3.228227 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) GS4 60M Dist Point 73 47 29.75 3 11 58.21 73.791597 3.199503 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) GS5 60M Dist Point 73 47 15.1 3 10 15.32 73.787528 3.170922 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) GS6 60M Dist Point 73 47 0.18 3 8 32.96 73.783384 3.142488 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) GS7 60M Dist Point 73 46 44.99 3 6 51.13 73.779165 3.114202 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) GS8 60M Dist Point 73 46 29.54 3 5 9.84 73.774871 3.086068 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) GS9 60M Dist Point 73 46 13.81 3 3 29.12 73.770502 3.058088 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) GS10 60M Dist Point 73 45 57.82 3 1 48.95 73.76606 3.030264 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) GS11 60M Dist Point 73 45 41.56 3 0 9.36 73.761545 3.0026 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) GS12 60M Dist Point 73 45 25.04 2 58 30.35 73.756956 2.975097 1000.0m 76.4(a)(ii) GS13 60M Dist Point 73 45 8.26 2 56 51.93 73.752295 2.947758 95708.9m 76.4(a)(ii) 76.4(a)(ii) on GS14 60M Dist Point 73 17 13.79 0 24 32.26 73.287163 0.40896 N.A. 200M line Norwegian Sea

South of the outer limits in the Greenland Sea, deﬁ ned by ﬁ xed points GS1 - GS14, the continental shelf in the Banana Hole covers the entire area beyond the 200 nautical miles limits of Mainland Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Jan Mayen.

Continental Shelf Submission of Norway 22 Executive Summary