The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) is an independent judicial body established in 1996 to resolve disputes related to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is located in Hamburg, Germany, and its main purpose is to ensure that the rules governing the world's oceans are upheld and interpreted fairly. ITLOS has the authority to hear cases involving maritime boundaries, fishing rights, and environmental protection, among other issues. The tribunal consists of 21 judges elected by the states parties to UNCLOS, and its decisions are binding on the parties involved in a dispute.