WHEREAS the Argentine Republic (“Argentina”) invoked Article 287 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (“UNCLOS”) and Article 1 of Annex VII to the UNCLOS with regard to a dispute concerning the detention of and court measures adopted by the Republic of Ghana (“Ghana”) against the frigate ARA Libertad, as set out in Argentina’s Notification dated 29 October 2012;

WHEREAS in accordance with Article 3 of Annex VII to the UNCLOS, by 4 February 2013, the Arbitral Tribunal composed of H.E. Judge Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, Judge Elsa Kelly, Judge Thomas A. Mensah, Professor Bernard H. Oxman, and H.E. Judge Bruno Simma (President) was constituted;

WHEREAS following the constitution of the Arbitral Tribunal, Terms of Appointment were signed by the Parties, the President of the Arbitral Tribunal on behalf of the Arbitral Tribunal, as well as the Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on 21 May 2013;

WHEREAS the Arbitral Tribunal held a First Procedural Meeting with the Parties at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands on 21 May 2013;