Navigation
Covers the laws governing the world's oceans and the geopolitical importance of maritime boundaries.
Imagine a country claims the ocean 200 miles from its shore, but its neighbor claims the same spot because of a tiny, uninhabited rock. Who owns the billions of dollars in oil beneath the waves?
Before 1982, the world's oceans were a 'wild west' with conflicting claims. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was created to bring order. It defines how far a nation's ghost-like borders extend into the water. The first major zone is Territorial Waters, extending 12 nautical miles (nm) from the baseline (the shore). Within this zone, a state has full sovereignty—their laws apply just as they do on land. Beyond this lies the Contiguous Zone (another 12 nm), where states can enforce customs and immigration laws. Understanding these distances is key to maritime security.
Quick Check
If a foreign merchant ship is 10 nautical miles off a country's coast, are they subject to that country's full territorial laws?
Answer
Yes, because they are within the 12 nautical mile Territorial Waters limit.
The most economically significant zone is the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This extends up to 200 nautical miles from the coast. While a country doesn't have total sovereignty here (ships of other nations have 'freedom of navigation'), the coastal state has sole rights to all natural resources. This includes fishing, mining, and oil and gas extraction. If the continental shelf—the submerged edge of the continent—extends further, a state can claim up to 350 nm, provided they can prove the geological connection. This zone is the primary driver of modern maritime disputes.
Quick Check
What is the primary difference between Territorial Waters and the EEZ regarding foreign ships?
Answer
In Territorial Waters, the state has full sovereignty; in the EEZ, foreign ships enjoy freedom of navigation, but the coastal state owns the resources.
When coastlines are closer than nm apart, EEZs overlap, leading to conflict. The South China Sea is the world's most complex flashpoint. China claims the 'Nine-Dash Line,' which covers nearly 90% of the sea, based on 'historical rights.' However, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia claim zones based on UNCLOS. To strengthen their legal standing, some nations build artificial islands on reefs. Under UNCLOS, a 'rock' that cannot sustain human life does not generate an EEZ, but a 'fully formed island' does. This distinction turns tiny specks of sand into multi-billion dollar legal assets.
When two countries, Country A and Country B, are only nm apart, their nm EEZs overlap by nm. 1. Total Distance nm. 2. Standard EEZ nm. 3. Overlap nm. 4. To resolve this fairly, courts often use the Median Line Principle, splitting the difference so each gets nm from their respective shores.
What is the maximum distance of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from a nation's baseline?
In which zone does a coastal state have the same level of authority as they do on their dry land?
An artificial island built on a submerged reef grants the constructing country a new 200 nm EEZ under UNCLOS.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to sketch a coastline and label the four maritime zones and their specific nautical mile distances without looking at your notes.
Practice Activity
Research the 'Arctic Circle' dispute. Which five countries are currently using UNCLOS to claim the North Pole's resources?