Maritime Law, Conventions and Flag State Administration
What the exam tests
Maritime Law, Conventions and Flag State Administration tests jurisdiction, certificates, flag state and port state control, and the master's legal duties. Answers must identify the convention and the enforcement authority.
Core rules and concepts
- UNCLOS: territorial sea 12 nm, contiguous zone 24 nm, EEZ 200 nm; innocent passage applies in the territorial sea.
- Flag state administers certificates and surveys; port state control inspects foreign ships and may detain for deficiencies.
- The Norwegian Maritime Authority (Sjøfartsdirektoratet) administers Norwegian certificates and surveys.
- SOLAS, MARPOL, MLC, STCW and Load Line are core conventions; each has survey and certificate cycles.
- Master's authority covers safety, pollution prevention, discipline and reporting; statutory responsibility cannot be delegated.
- Accident reporting requires flag state and coastal state notification and may lead to marine casualty investigation.
- Salvage and limitation: LOF, salvage convention and limitation funds.
Worked example
A pollution incident occurs 15 nm from the baseline. That is outside the 12 nm territorial sea but inside the 24 nm contiguous zone. The coastal state has limited enforcement in the contiguous zone for customs, fiscal, immigration and sanitary matters, but MARPOL enforcement may still apply through flag state and port state mechanisms. Do not assume that outside 12 nm means no law applies.
Traps
Confusing contiguous zone with EEZ; treating port state control as flag state; assuming the master can delegate certificates; missing coastal state notification; and ignoring MLC rest-hour records.
Key points: 12/24/200 nm; flag vs port state; certificates; master's authority; casualty reporting; MARPOL jurisdiction.