Part XV UNCLOS

Part XV of UNCLOS contains the dispute-settlement system. Section 1 obliges parties to settle disputes peacefully and by means of their own choice; Section 2 makes the residual procedures compulsory and binding once those means are exhausted; Section 3 carves out limitations and optional exceptions. The architecture, a choice of four fora under Article 287 with Annex VII arbitration as the fallback, plus the opt-outs of Article 298, is what gives UNCLOS its rare combination of broad subject-matter coverage and compulsory jurisdiction.