The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is one of the most important multilateral conventions in history. Adopted in 1982, and effectively completed in 1994 with a revision of Part XI on Deep Seabed Mining, the Convention is today in force for 160 nations plus the European Union. In its 17 parts encompassing 320 articles with nine annexes (and Final Act with six annexes) the Convention is the authoritative contemporary basis for the law of the sea.