Comments
On March 19, 2014, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2146. Acting under Chapter VII, the Security Council condemned the illicit export of crude oil from Libya. The Security Council authorized States to inspect vessels on the high seas, and using “all measures commensurate to the specific circumstances . . . to return the crude oil, with the consent of and in coordination with the Government to Libya, to Libya.” These inspections may only be “carried out by warships and ships owned or operated by a State and used only on government non-commercial service.” The Resolution requests that Member States seek consent of the vessel’s flag state, report on the relevant details of the inspection, and affirms that this authorization “shall not affect the rights or obligations or responsibilities of Member States under international law.”