Territorial sea

Coastal sovereignty within the territorial sea extends up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline, covering the seabed, subsoil, water column and airspace. While sovereignty is strong, it is balanced by the obligation to permit innocent passage of foreign vessels, including warships, unless their actions threaten peace or security. This chapter discusses the legal differences between innocent and non-innocent passage, as well as the authority of Coastal States to regulate, suspend or deny passage. It examines enforcement jurisdiction over crimes in the territorial sea, such as pollution, cabotage violations and offences aboard foreign vessels. Special attention is given to military navigation and how warships that refuse compliance are treated. The relationship between sovereign authority and the rights of the international community underscores the dual role of the territorial sea: as a zone of control and as a pathway for international maritime traffic.