UNCLOS: Maritime Zones & Pollution

• UNCLOS sets limits for various maritime areas.
• Areas outside territorial waters are referred to as international waters.
• Maritime zones include internal waters, territorial waters, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone, continental shelf.

Dumbing

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

Pollution of the Maritime

• Introduction of substances or energy into the marine environment by humans, directly or indirectly.
• Results in harmful effects such as harm to living resources and marine life.

Force Majeure

• A common clause in contracts.

Baseline

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

Internal Waters

• Includes ports, rivers, lakes, and straits on the landward side of the baseline.
• These waters fall under the full sovereignty of the coastal nation.
• The state has the autonomy to set laws and use any resources.
• Foreign vessels do not have the right of passage unless state permission is granted.

Territorial Waters

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

Meaning of Passage

• Navigation through territorial waters for the purpose of passing without entering internal waters or ports or proceeding to/from internal waters or calling at such a port.
• Passage includes stopping and anchoring only for force majeure or in cases of 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 the natural prolongation ends.
• It can never exceed 350 nautical miles or, at minimum, 100 nautical miles.
• Only fishing is allowed from 200 nautical miles onward; from 200, any body can fish, but without fuel after 350, anybody can do anything.

Archipelagic Waters

• Baselines can be drawn between the outermost points of the outermost islands.
• All waters inside this baseline are designated as archipelagic waters.
• The state has full sovereignty over these waters, like internal waters.
• Foreign vessels have the right of innocent passage through archipelagic waters, like territorial waters.

Straits

• Narrow channels connect larger sea areas and must be part of the sea, 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
• When the crime disturbs the peace of the country.

High Seas

• Parts of the sea not included in the EEZ, territorial or internal waters.

Freedom of the High Seas

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

Restrictions for the Principle of Freedom of Navigation

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