UNCLOS: Law of the Sea ( easy )

• The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS) sets limits for various maritime areas.

Dumping

• Any deliberate disposal of wastes or other matter from a vessel.
• Includes aircraft, platforms, or other man-made structures.

Pollution

• The introduction by humans, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment, including estuaries.
• Pollution results in harmful effects such as harm to living resources and marine life.

Force Majeure

• A common clause in contracts.

International Waters

• Areas outside territorial waters.

Maritime Zones

• Includes internal waters, territorial waters, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf.

Baseline

• The boundary from which a nation measures the areas over which it exercises sovereignty.

Internal Waters

• Includes ports, rivers, lakes, straits on the landward side of the baseline.
• Coastal nations have full sovereignty.
• States can set laws and use any resources.
• Foreign vessels require state permission and do not have the right of passage.

Territorial Waters

• Extends 12 nautical miles from the baseline.
• Coastal states can set laws and use any resources within.
• Vessels have the right of innocent passage through territorial waters.
• Innocent passage is defined as passing through waters expeditiously and continuously non-prejudicial
• Fishing, polluting, weapon practice, and spying are not innocent.
• Nations can temporarily suspend innocent passage in specific areas for security reasons.

Meaning of Passage

• Navigation through the territorial water.
• Does not include entering internal water or port, unless proceeding to or from internal water or a call at such port.
• Includes stopping and anchoring only for force majeure and distress.

Contiguous Zone

• Extends 12 nautical miles beyond the territorial sea limit.
• States can enforce laws in four specific areas; customs, taxation, immigration, and pollution.

Exclusive Economic Zones

• Extends 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
• Coastal nations have sole exploitation rights over all natural resources.
• Foreign nations have freedom of navigation and overflight.

Continental Shelf

• Defined as the natural prolongation of the land territory to the continental margin's outer edge, or 200 nautical miles from the baseline, whichever is greater.
• A continental shelf may exceed 200 nautical miles until natural prolongation ends.
• Never exceeds 350 nautical miles or it may never exceed 100 nautical miles.
• From 200 nautical miles, only fishing is allowed. After 200 nautical miles, anybody can fish, but without fuel after 350 nautical miles.

Archipelagic Waters

• A baseline is drawn between the outermost points of the outermost islands.
• All water inside this baseline are designated archipelagic waters.
• The state has full sovereignty.
• Foreign vessels have the right of innocent passage.

Straits

• Narrow channels connect larger sea areas, formed naturally, and wide enough for international navigation.

Transit Passage

• Allows continuous and expeditious transit through straits for navigation and overflight.

Rights and Duties of Coastal States

• Coastal states cannot block innocent passage or treat ships unfairly.
• Coastal states can take steps to prevent non-innocent passage.
• Coastal states can temporarily suspend innocent passage in specific areas for security reasons.

Criminal Jurisdiction on Board a Foreign Ship

• A coastal state's criminal jurisdiction on foreign ships is limited to specific cases.
• Includes consequences of a crime extending to the coastal state.
• Includes the crime disturbing the peace of the country.

High Seas

• All parts of the sea are not included in the EEZ, territorial water, and internal water.

Freedom of the High Seas

• Includes freedom of navigation.
• Includes freedom of overflight.
• Includes freedom of fishing.
• Includes freedom of scientific research.

Restrictions for the Principle of Freedom of Navigation

• Prohibition of the transport of slaves.
• Prohibition of maritime piracy.
• Right of visiting and inspection by approval of the United States.
• Right to stop illegal drug trafficking at sea.