The Continental Shelf Project
Map showing Continental Shelf Project five study areas. The shaded areas do not indicate the potential claim areas, but areas where data have been collected.
On April 29, 2003 the Danish Parliament decided to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This decision was later also endorsed by the Parliaments of the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
The Kingdom of Denmark ratified UNCLOS on November 16, 2004. It entered into force for the Kingdom of Denmark on December 16, 2004 and from this date the Kingdom has 10 years to put forward claims of extending the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.
Five potential claim areas have been identified off the Fareo Islands and Greenland, potentially including the North Pole.
In order to provide the necessary database the Continental Shelf Project of the Kingdom of Denmark has been launched by the Ministry for Higher Education and Science in co-operation with the Faroese
governments. The project is a co-operation between various institutions in Denmark, Faroe Islands and Greenland.
The main tasks of the Continental Shelf Project of the Kingdom of Denmark are to identify potential claim areas and to acquire, interpret and document the necessary data for a submission to the United Nations.
This website provides you with information on the Continental Shelf Project of the Kingdom of Denmark, potential claim areas, results of the project and some general information on UNCLOS.