Victor (and colleagues),
We did a report in 1994 on a maritime
equidistance line between Romania and Ukraine.
We also produced coordinates for the line.
Ostrov Zmeinyy (Snake/Serpent Island) was indeed
administered by the Soviet Union where a radar
station was based which was run by the Soviet and
then the Russian military
After the break up of the USSR, Russia initially
claimed the island because of the radar station
while the Romanians claimed that Russia
subsequently dropped its claim. However, when we
spoke to the head of Russia's legal department in
the ministry of foreign affairs, he told us that
Rusisa had not yet articulated its claims and that
everything was up for negotiation. If the Russian
claim is now dropped, we assumed that Ukraine
"inherited" the island. However both Romania and
Ukraine advanced claims to it in their March 1995
negotiations.
I don't know what specific issues you are
interested in but we concluded that, whether
the island was given full or half effect,
the JPX Oil & Gas concession and the Delphin
prospect were undoubtedly in Ukrainian waters.
Let us know if we can be of assistance
Best wishes - Charles
Charles Gurdon
Menas Associates
-------------Forwarded Message-----------------
Dear Colleagues, Forgive for troubling you. I am seeking information on an
island in the Black Sea. It is called Ostrov Zmeinyy in the British
sailing directions , but I have seen a spelling Zmeinyj. It is located on
the west side of the Sea almost due east of the terminus of the land
boundary between Romania and Ukraine at 45degrees15' N and 30 degrees 12'
E. I presume it is now a Ukrainian Island. It was certainly considered to
belong to Russia. The 1969 Pilot describes it as standing 39.6 metres high
and surrounded by a continuous cliff 15-21 metres high. In 1969 there was
asighnal station and a white tower 21.6 metres high surmounted by a light.
A spit extends 1 nm northeast of the island.
I would appreciate confirmation that the feature belongs to Ukraine and any
information about whether it is claimed by Romania. It would also be useful
to have an indication of its area and whether it is used for anything other
than as a platform for navigational aids.
With best wishes for 2002
Sincerely, Victor Prescott
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