The Problem of Jurisdiction

The continental shelf is located outside the boundaries of national territory and territorial waters. Consequently, the coastal state needs a specific basis in rules of international law in order to exercise jurisdictional powers over the continental shelf and the activities taking place there. We will not delve into these issues in general, but illustrate their link to safety regulation by looking briefly into the issue of jurisdiction over floating devices employed in offshore petroleum activities. 

Th is question is relevant for several issues other than safety regulation, for example, employment, insurance, tax, liability for tort, and so forth. In most of these other matters, the coastal state (here Norway) cannot exercise any jurisdiction over a foreign vessel operating in connection with petrolenm exploration and exploitation off its 

This aspect is also influenced by the state ref. Petroleum Act Sect. 10-9 on liability for independent contractors, and Petroleum Act Ch. 7 on liability for pollution damage. 

Generally, these powers include the power to regulate, adjudicate and enforce. 

In between these extremes there are numerous examples of floating devices that have more or less in common with ordinary shipping. One group comprises vessels specifically designed for standby, supply services, anchor handling, seismic or geological exploration, subsea work and so forth. These vessels may both look like 

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