Definition of territorial sea

A territorial sea is the concept used to designate that part of the ocean, located adjacent to the coast and extending for 12 nautical miles, which is the same as 22.2 square kilometers and over which a state exercises absolute sovereignty, just as it happens with respect to the waters that are in the interior of its territory.

Part of an ocean that is located 22 km. of the coast corresponding to a nation and therefore integrates its territory

We must say that those more than 22 km. They are counted from the baselines from which their width is measured.

The aforementioned baselines are those that allow the territorial sea to be delimited, as they can be normal, straight or archipelagic.

Scope of sovereignty over the territorial sea

For instance, is that the nation in question will have all the right of the world to exercise their authority in that aquatic space, that is, it may protect or prohibit the performance of certain actions, especially suspend those that harm it.

It should be noted that the main reason and argument when it comes to recognizing the sovereignty of the state in question over the adjoining sea is that this control is essential to guarantee its safety and the defense of their interests.

In any case, there are some limitations to that state power over the territorial sea and it has to do with the permission that is granted. to ships from other states, as long as it does not imply any type of affront that threatens the security of the nation.

Innocent passage permit: rapid passage of a foreign vessel, and other laws established in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Such permission is formally known as Innocent step and is seated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; Thus, when it is a fast passage and without prolonged stops, ships from all states will be allowed to navigate the corresponding territorial sea.

Another important consideration that must be known regarding these seas is that in the case that the coasts of two states are adjacent or are located opposite each other, neither of the two nations shall have the right to extend its dominion over the adjacent sea over a median line that has points equidistant from the points closest to the baselines, which is from which the width of the territorial sea of ​​each of the countries is measured, unless an agreement has been reached bilateral.

As well as the Innocent Pass, the delimitation of those 22 km. From the coast, they were resolved by the aforementioned United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (CDM or CONVEMAR), which was born in the year 1982, and which has 168 signatory countries, is considered one of the most relevant multilateral agreements that have been materialized throughout history, after the Charter of the United Nations, so that they can get an idea of ​​the importance of this treaty.

Even its realization took almost ten years of discussions until the text final.

It is popularly called the Constitution of the oceans because it establishes a series of guidelines that regulate these waters as important for the life of men and other species, and also for the nations of our planet.

Said Convention is composed as a constitution and thus it is opened by a preamble, which is followed by 17 parts and 9 annexes.

The topics it contains and legislates are varied and many, all obviously linked to the rights of the sea, established boundaries of maritime zones: exclusive economic zones, high seas, platform continental; navigable rights and straits that allow external navigation; the so-called archipelagic states (states made up of one or more archipelagos); and also offers a number of considerations on how the assets should be conserved and protected. resources of the sea, which as we know are so important for the life and development of a country.

It also sets out conditions for investigation marina and the methodologies to follow when solving boundary problems that may appear between states.

Topics in Territorial Sea