Hamburg/Gandhinagar, October 1: Indian international law expert Dr Bimal N Patel on Thursday took oath as a Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) at the Tribunal’s headquarters in Hamburg, Germany.
Patel began his nine-year term on October 1 after being elected to the Tribunal on June 18, 2026, at the 36th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at the UN headquarters in New York.
Seven members were elected to the Tribunal during the meeting.
ITLOS comprises 21 independent members elected by states parties to UNCLOS. Its members are chosen from among persons recognised for competence in the law of the sea and for their fairness and integrity, with due regard to equitable geographical distribution and representation of the principal legal systems.
Patel has worked extensively in international law, with a focus on the law of the sea, maritime governance, international adjudication and state responsibility. He has served as a member of the UN International Law Commission and chaired its Working Group on Succession of States in respect of State Responsibility.
He currently serves as Vice-Chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University and has previously been associated with institution-building at Gujarat National Law University and Gujarat Maritime University.
His other responsibilities have included membership of India’s National Security Advisory Board, the Committee on Antarctic Governance and the High-Level Advisory Board of the International Committee of the Red Cross. He also served as Lead Academic Adviser during India’s tenure on the UN Security Council in 2021-22.
Patel has authored or edited more than 25 books and published research on international law, maritime law, national security and related subjects.
The ITLOS deals with disputes concerning the interpretation and application of UNCLOS and other matters falling within its jurisdiction. Its work covers areas including maritime delimitation, navigation, marine resources, protection of the marine environment and other questions arising under the Convention.
Patel assumes office at a time when issues including maritime boundaries, freedom of navigation, marine environmental protection, sustainable use of ocean resources and deep seabed activities have gained increasing prominence in international law.
His appointment also comes against the backdrop of India’s expanding engagement with maritime cooperation and the Indian Ocean region.
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