The Ratification of Maritime Conventions
Chapter I.3.310
THE INTERNATIONAL COSPAS-SARSAT PROGRAMME AGREEMENT, 1988
ADOPTED: Done at Paris, 1 July 1988
REFERENCE: COS-SAR 1988
ENTERED INTO FORCE: 30 August 1988
DEPOSITARY: IMO, London
SECRETARY: IMO, London
IMPLEMENTATION
ENTRY INTO FORCE AND DURATION
Article XX
XX.1 This Agreement shall be open for signature by Canada, the Republic of France, the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Signature may be made not subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, or may be accompanied by a declaration that it is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval.
XX.2 This Agreement shall enter into force for Canada, the Republic of France, the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the sixtieth day following the date on which these four States have either signed the Agreement not subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, or have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval with the Depositary.
XX.3 Upon entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties shall take the necessary measures in order to ensure that the Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed 5 October 1984 and came into effect 8 July 1985, among the Ministry of Merchant Marine of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States of America, the Department of National Defence of Canada and the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales of France concerning Co-operation in the COSPAS-SARSAT Search and Rescue satellite System, ceases to be in effect.
XX.4 This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of fifteen years from the date on which it enters into force and shall be extended automatically for successive periods of five years.
ACCESSION
Article XVI
XVI.1 This Agreement shall be open for accession by any State that agrees to contribute a minimum of one basic unit to the Space Segment, and is prepared to assume the responsibilities of a Party pursuant to this Agreement.
XVI.2 Where a State is to accede to this Agreement and assume responsibility for the contribution of a basic unit of the existing Space Segment, either as described in article 3.1 or as enhanced pursuant to article 3.2, it shall do so in agreement with the Party currently providing that basic unit and in consultation with the other Parties.
XVI.3 Where a State is to accede to this Agreement and assume responsibility for the contribution of an additional basic unit which itself constitutes an enhancement of the Space Segment, it shall do so with the agreement of all Parties following a decision of the Council pursuant to article 3.2 that such enhancement is required.
XVI.4 Where the requirements of article XVI.2 or XVI.3, as appropriate, have been satisfied and the State so notified, such State may accede by depositing its instrument of accession with the Depositary.
XVI.5 This Agreement shall enter into force for the acceding State on the date of deposit of the instrument of accession with the Depositary.
NOTIFICATIONS
Article IV of the Agreement—Co-operating Agencies
U.S.S.R.
(translation) “In accordance with article IV/II of the Agreement on the COSPAS-SARSAT International Programme, 1988, the Soviet side is notifying herewith that the All-Union Association “Morsvjazsputnik” has been designated as the co-operating organization responsible for the implementation of the programme.”