SOLAS Genl. Prov. SOLAS Sub. Division SOLAS Fire Safety SOLAS LSA SOLAS GMDSS
  SOLAS Grain SOLAS Dangerous Goods ISM STCW Athens Conv.
  Tonnage Rules        

 

Legislative Requirements

 

Law of the Sea - I

Conventions on the Law of the Sea

The States Parties to this Convention, prompted by the desire to settle, in a spirit of mutual understanding  and co-operation, all issues relating to the law of the sea and aware  of the historic significance of this Convention as an important contribution to the maintenance of peace, justice and progress for all the peoples of the world,

 Noting that developments since the United Nations Conferences on the Law of the Sea held at Geneva in 1958 and 1960 have accentuated the need for a new and generally acceptable Convention on the law of the sea,

 Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole,

 Recognising the desirability of establishing, through this Convention, with due regard for the sovereignty of all States, a legal order for the seas and oceans which will facilitate international communication and will promote the peaceful uses of the seas and oceans, the equitable and efficient utilization of their resources, the conservation of their living resources and the study, protection and preservation of the marine environment,

 Bearing in mind that the achievement of these goals will contribute to the realization of a just and equitable international economic order which takes into account the interests and needs of mankind as a whole  and, in particular, the special interests and needs  of developing countries, whether coastal or land-locked,

 Desiring by this Convention to develop the principles embodied in resolution 2749 (XXV) of 17 December 1970 in which the General Assembly of the United Nations solemnly declared inter alia that the area of the sea-bed and ocean floor and the subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, as well as its resources, are the common heritage of mankind, the exploration and exploitation of which shall be carried out for the benefit of mankind as a whole, irrespective of the geographical location of States,

 Believing that the codification and progressive development of the law of the sea achieved in this Convention will contribute to the strengthening of peace, security, co-operation and friendly relations among all nations in conformity with the principles of justice and equal rights and will promote the economic and social advancement of all peoples of the world, in accordance with the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations as set forth in the Charter,

 Affirming that matters not regulated by this Convention continue to be governed by the rules and principles of general international law, have agreed to the convention.

Definitions:

‘Pollution of the marine environment’ means the introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment, including estuaries, which results or is likely to result in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources and marine life, hazards to human health, hindrance to marine activities, including fishing and other legitimate uses of the sea, impairment of quality for use of sea water and reduction of amenities;

‘Dumping’ means:

 (i) any deliberate disposal of wastes or other matter from vessels, aircraft, platforms or other man-made structures at sea;

 (ii) any deliberate disposal of vessels, aircraft, platforms or other man-made structures at sea.

 (b) ‘dumping’ does not include:

 (i) the disposal of wastes or other matter incidental to, or derived from the normal operations of vessels, aircraft, platforms or other man-made structures at sea and their equipment, other than wastes or other matter transported by or to vessels, aircraft, platforms or other man-made structures at sea, operating for the purpose of disposal of such matter or derived from the treatment of such wastes or other matter on such vessels, aircraft, platforms or structures;

Force Majeure literally means “greater force”. These clauses excuse a party from liability if some unforseen event beyond the control of that party prevents it from performing its obligations under the contract. Typically, force majeure clauses cover natural disasters or other “Acts of God”, war, or the failure of third parties—such as suppliers and subcontractors—to perform their obligations to the contracting party. It is important to remember that force majeure clauses are intended to excuse a party only if the failure to perform could not be avoided by the exercise of due care by that party.

Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone

Legal status of the territorial sea, of the air space over the territorial sea and of its bed and subsoil

 1. The sovereignty of a coastal State extends beyond its land territory and internal waters and, in the case of an archipelagic State, its archipelagic waters, to an adjacent belt of sea, described as the territorial sea.

 2. This sovereignty extends to the air space over the territorial sea as well as to its bed and subsoil.

 3. The sovereignty over the territorial sea is exercised subject to this Convention and to other rules of international law.

Breadth of the territorial sea

 Every State has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baselines determined in accordance with this Convention.


Internal waters

 1. Except as provided in Part IV of UNCLOS, waters on the landward side of the baseline of the territorial sea form part of the internal waters of the state.

 2. Where the establishment of a straight baseline in accordance with the method set forth in article 7 has the effect of enclosing as internal waters areas which had not previously been considered as such, a right of innocent passage as provided in this Convention shall exist in those waters.

 Roadsteads

 Roadsteads which are normally used for the loading, unloading and anchoring of ships, and which would otherwise be situated wholly or partly outside the outer limit of the territorial sea, are included in the territorial sea.

Right of innocent passage

 Subject to this Convention, ships of all States, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.

Meaning of passage

 1. Passage means navigation through the territorial sea for the purpose of:

 (a) traversing that sea without entering internal waters or calling at a roadstead or port facility outside internal waters; or 

 (b) proceeding to or from internal waters or a call at such roadstead or port facility.

 2. Passage shall be continuous and expeditious. However, passage includes stopping and anchoring, but only in so far as the same are incidental to ordinary navigation or are rendered necessary by force majeure or distress or for the purpose of rendering assistance to persons, ships or aircraft in danger or distress.


Meaning of innocent passage

 1. Passage is innocent so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State. Such passage shall take place in conformity with this Convention and with other rules of international law.

 2. Passage of a foreign ship shall be considered to be prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State if in the territorial sea it engages in any of the following activities:

 (a) any threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of the coastal State, or in any other manner in violation of the principles of international law embodied in the Charter of the United Nations;

 (b) any exercise or practice with weapons of any kind;

 (c) any act aimed at collecting information to the prejudice of the defence or security of the coastal State;

 (d) any act of propaganda aimed at affecting the defence or security of the coastal State;

 (e) the launching, landing or taking on board of any aircraft;

 (f) the launching, landing or taking on board of any military device;

 (g) the loading or unloading of any commodity, currency or person contrary to the customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations of the coastal State

 (h)  any act of wilful and serious pollution contrary to this Convention;

 (i) any fishing activities

 (j) the carrying out of research or survey activities

 (k) any act aimed at interfering with any systems of communication or any other facilities or installations of the coastal State;

 (l) any other activity not having a direct bearing on passage.


 Laws and regulations of the coastal State relating to innocent passage

 1. The coastal State may adopt laws and regulations, in conformity with the provisions of this Convention and other rules of international law, relating to innocent passage through the territorial sea, in respect of all or any of the following:

 (a) the safety of navigation and the regulation of maritime traffic;

 (b) the protection of navigational aids and facilities and other facilities or installations;

 (c) the protection of cables and pipelines;

 (d ) the conservation of the living resources of the sea;

 (e) the prevention of infringement of the fisheries laws and regulations of the coastal State;

 (f) the preservation of the environment of the coastal State and the prevention, reduction and control of pollution thereof;

 (g) marine scientific research and hydrographic surveys

 (h) the prevention of infringement of the customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations of the coastal State.

 2.  Such  laws and regulations shall not apply to the disign, construction, manning or equipment of foreign ships unless they are giving effect to generally accepted international rules or standards.

 3. The coastal State shall give due publicity to all such laws and regulations.

 4. Foreign ships exercising the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea shall comply with all such laws and regulations and all generally accepted international regulations relating to the prevention of collisions at sea.


Sea lanes and traffic separation schemes  in  the territorial sea

 1. The coastal State may, where necessary having regard to the safety of navigation, require the foreign ships exercising the right of innocent passage through its territorial sea to use such sea lanes and traffic separation schemes as it may designate or prescribe for the regulation of the passage of ships.

 2. In particular, tankers, nuclear-powered ships and ships carrying nuclear or other inherently dangerous or noxious substances  or materials may be required to confine their passage to such sea lanes.

 3. In the designation of sea lanes and the prescription of traffic separation schemes under this article, the coastal State shall take into account:

 (a) the recommendations of the competent international organization;

 (b) any channels customarily used for international navigation;

 (c) the special characteristics of particular ships and channels; and (d ) the density of traffic.

 4. The coastal State shall clearly indicate such sea lanes and traffic separation schemes on charts to which due publicity shall be given.

Foreign nuclear-powered ships and ships carrying nuclear or other inherently dangerous or noxious substances

 Foreign nuclear-powered ships and ships carrying nuclear or other inherently dangerous or noxious substances shall, when exercising the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea, carry documents and observe special precautionary measures established for such ships by international agreements.

Rights of protection of the coastal State

 1. The coastal State may take the necessary steps in its territorial sea to prevent passage which is not innocent.

 2. In the case of ships proceeding to internal waters or a call at a port facility outside internal waters, the coastal State also has the right to take the necessary steps to prevent any breach of the conditions to which admission of those ships to internal waters or such a call is subject.

 3. The coastal State may, without discrimination in form or in fact among foreign ships, suspend temporarily in specified areas of its territorial sea the innocent passage of foreign ships if  such suspension is essential for the protection of its security, including weapons exercises. Such suspension shall take effect only after having been duly published.

Charges which may be levied upon foreign ships

 1. No charge may be levied upon foreign ships by reason only of their passage through the territorial sea.

 2. Charges may be levied upon a foreign ship passing through the territorial sea as payment only for specific services rendered to the ship. These charges shall be levied without discrimination.

Criminal jurisdiction on board a foreign ship

 1. The criminal jurisdiction of the coastal State should not be exercised on board a foreign ship passing through the territorial sea to arrest any person or to conduct any investigation in connection with any crime committed on board the ship during its passage, save only in the following cases:

 (a) if the consequences of the crime extend to the coastal State;

 (b) if the crime is of a kind to disturb the peace of the country or the good order of the territorial sea;

 (c) if the assistance of the local authorities has been requested by the master of the ship or by a diplomatic agent or consular officer of the flag State; or

 (d) if such measures are necessary for the suppression of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.

 2. The above provisions do not affect the right of the coastal State to take any steps authorized by its laws for the purpose of an arrest or  investigation on board a foreign ship passing through  the territorial sea after leaving internal waters.

 3. In the cases provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2, the coastal State shall, if the master so requests, notify a diplomatic agent or consular officer of the flag State before taking any steps, and shall facilitate contact between such agent or officer and the ship’s crew. In cases of emergency this notification may be communicated while the measures are being taken.

 4. In considering whether or in what manner an arrest should be made, the local authorities shall have due regard to the interests of navigation.

 5. Except as provided in Part XII or with respect to violations of laws and regulations adopted in accordance with Part V, the coastal State may not take any steps on board a foreign ship passing through the  territorial sea to arrest any person or to  conduct  any investigation in connection with any crime committed before the ship entered the territorial sea, if the ship, proceeding from a foreign port, is only passing through the territorial sea without entering internal waters.

Civil jurisdiction in relation to foreign ships

 1. The coastal State should not stop or divert a foreign ship passing through the territorial sea for the purpose of exercising civil jurisdiction in relation to a person on board the ship.

 2. The coastal State may not levy execution against or arrest the ship for the purpose of any civil proceedings, save only in respect of obligations or liabilities assumed or incurred by the ship itself in the course or for the purpose of its voyage through the waters of the coastal State.

 3. Paragraph 2 is without prejudice to the right of the coastal State, in accordance with its laws, to levy execution against or to arrest, for the purpose of any civil proceedings, a foreign ship lying in the territorial sea, or passing through the territorial sea after leaving
 internal waters.

 


 CONTIGUOUS ZONE

Contiguous zone

 1. In a zone contiguous to its territorial sea, described as the contiguous zone, the coastal State may exercise the control necessary to:

 (a) prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations within its territory or territorial sea;

 (b) punish infringement of the above laws and regulations committed within its territory or territorial sea.

 2. The contiguous zone may not extend beyond 24 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.