The Commander S Handbook On The Law Of Naval Operations

Summary. This revision updates and expands upon various topics regarding the law of the sea and law of war. In particular, it updates the history of U.S. Senate consideration of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to include its 2012 hearings; emphasizes that islands, rocks, and low-tide elevations are naturally formed and that engineering, construction, and land reclamation cannot convert their legal status; provides more detail on U.S. sovereign immunity policy for Military Sealift Command chartered vessels and for responding to foreign requests for health inspections and medical information; removes language indicating that all USN/USCG vessels under command of a noncommissioned officer are auxiliary vessels; emphasizes that only warships may exercise belligerent rights during international armed conflicts; adds a description of U.S.-Chinese bilateral and multilateral agreements promoting air and maritime safety; updates the international law applicable to vessels seeking a place of refuge;...

The Commander's Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations August 2017 Edition NWP 1-14M MCTP 11-10B COMDTPUB P5800.7ASCOPEThis publication, The Commander's Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations August 2017 Edition, sets out those fundamental principles of international and domestic law that govern U.S. naval operations at sea. Chapters 1 through 4 relate to peacetime naval operations. They provide an overview and general discussion of the law of the sea, including definitions and descriptions of the jurisdiction and sovereignty exercised by States over various parts of the world's oceans; the international legal status and navigational rights of warships and military aircraft; protection of persons and property at sea; and the safeguarding of national interests in the maritime environment. Chapters 5 through 12 relate to naval warfare. They set out principles of law of special concern to the naval commander during any period in which U.S. naval forces are engaged in armed conflict. Although the primary emphasis of these chapters is on the conduct of naval warfare, relevant principles and concepts common to the whole of the law of war are also discussed.PURPOSEThis publication is intended for the use of operational commanders and supporting staff elements at all levels of command. It is designed to provide officers in command and their staffs with an overview of the rules of law governing naval operations in peacetime and during armed conflict. The explanations and descriptions in this publication are intended to enable the naval commander and his staff to comprehend more fully the legal foundations upon which the orders issued to them by higher authority are premised, and to understand better the commander's responsibilities under international and domestic law to execute his mission within that law. This publication sets forth general guidance. It is not a comprehensive treatment of the law nor is it a substitute for the definitive legal guidance provided by judge advocates and others responsible for advising commanders on the law. Officers in command of operational units are encouraged to utilize this publication as a training aid for assigned personnel.This publication provides general information and guidance. It is not directive, and does not supersede guidance issued by the chain of command.INTERNATIONAL LAWFor purposes of this publication, international law is defined as that body of rules that States consider binding in their relations with one another. International law is created by States. It derives from the practice of States in the international arena and from international agreements between States. International law provides stability in international relations and an expectation that certain acts or omissions will result in predictable consequences. If one State violates the law, it may expect that others will reciprocate. Consequently, failure to comply with international law ordinarily involves greater political and economic costs than does observance. In short, States comply with international law because it is in their interest to do so. Like most rules of conduct, international law is in a continual state of development and change. This publication seeks to accurately describe the state of international law on the date of the publication's issuance.Practice of StatesThe general and consistent practice among States with respect to a particular subject, which over time is accepted by them generally as a legal obligation, is known as customary international law. Customary international law is the principal source of international law and is binding upon all States.

In August 2017, The Commander's Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations-Manual Manual NWP 1-14M/MCTP 11-10B/COMDTPUB P5800.7A, was released by the US Navy, the US Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard. It sets out those fundamental principles of international and domestic law that govern US naval operations at sea.

NWP 1-14M MCTP 11-10B (Formerly MCWP 5-12.1) COMDTPUB P5800.7A The Commander's Handbook on The Law Of Naval Operations JULY 2007 This publication sets out those fundamental principles of international and domestic law that govern U.S. naval operations at sea. Part I, Law of Peacetime Naval Operations, provides an overview and general discussion of the law of the sea, including definitions and descriptions of the jurisdiction and sovereignty exercised by nations over various parts of the world's oceans; the international legal status and navigational rights of warships and military aircraft; protection of persons and property at sea; and the safeguarding of national interests in the maritime environment. Part II, Law of Naval Warfare, sets out those principles of law of special concern to the naval commander during any period in which U.S. naval forces are engaged in armed conflict. Although the primary emphasis of Part II is upon the rules of international law concerned with the conduct of naval warfare, attention is also directed to relevant principles and concepts common to the whole of the law of armed conflict.

NTTP 3-54M/MCWP 3-40.9 provides the commander with an operations security (OPSEC) overview, OPSEC evolution, and guidance for the most crucial aspect of OPSEC, that of identifying critical information (CI). It explains the OPSEC process, also known as the OPSEC five-step process. This publication addresses the areas of OPSEC and force protection, public affairs officer (PAO) interaction, the role of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) in coordination with OPSEC, the OPSEC/OMBUDSMAN/KEY VOLUNTEER relationship and the conduct of OPSEC assessments. This publication includes separate chapters on Web page registration, Web risk assessment, and Red team activity. Appendices provide guidance to implement effective plans/programs at the individual unit, strike group, and shore establishment levels. NWP 3-13 (FEB 2014), NAVY INFORMATION OPERATIONS, provides information operations guidance to Navy commanders, planners, and operators to exploit and shape the information environment and apply information-related capabilities to achieve military objectives. This publication reinforces the integrating functionality of information operations to incorporate informationrelated capabilities and engage in the information environment to provide a military advantage to the friendly Navy force. It is effective upon receipt. 1. NWP 1-14M/MCTP 11-10B/COMDTPUB P5800.7A (AUG 2017), THE COMMANDER’S HANDBOOK ON THE LAW OF NAVAL OPERATIONS, is available in the Navy Warfare Library. It is effective upon receipt and supersedes NWP 1-14M/MCWP 5-12.1/COMDTPUB 5800.7A (JUL 2007), The Commander’s Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations. 2. Summary. This revision updates and expands upon various topics regarding the law of the sea and law of war. In particular, it updates the history of U.S. Senate consideration of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to include its 2012 hearings; emphasizes that islands, rocks, and low-tide elevations are naturally formed and that engineering, construction, and land reclamation cannot convert their legal status; provides more detail on U.S. sovereign immunity policy for Military Sealift Command chartered vessels and for responding to foreign requests for health inspections and medical information; removes language indicating that all USN/USCG vessels under command of a noncommissioned officer are auxiliary vessels; emphasizes that only warships may exercise belligerent rights during international armed conflicts; adds a description of U.S.-Chinese bilateral and multilateral agreements promoting air and maritime safety; updates the international law applicable to vessels seeking a place of refuge; updates the description of vessels assimilated to vessels without nationality; provides detailed descriptions of the five types of international straits; states the U.S. position on the legal status of the Northwest Passage and Northern Sea Route; updates the list of international duties in outer space; updates the law regarding the right of safe harbor; adds “honor” as a law of war principle; adds information about weapons reviews in the Department of the Navy; updates the law regarding unprivileged enemy belligerents; includes information about the U.S. position on the use of landmines; expands on the discussion of the International Criminal Court (ICC); and updates the law of targeting.