Maritime Boundaries and Delimitation Principles
Maritime Boundaries and Delimitation Principles
This domain covers the legal and technical principles for delimiting maritime zones under international law, primarily the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Candidates must understand: territorial sea (up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline), contiguous zone (up to 24 nm), exclusive economic zone (EEZ) (up to 200 nm), and the continental shelf (up to 200 nm, extendable to 350 nm under certain conditions). Know the baseline types: normal baseline (low-water line along the coast) and straight baselines (for deeply indented coasts or fringing islands). Understand equidistance and special circumstances in delimitation, and the role of provisional equidistance in negotiations. Also be familiar with median line, equitable solution, and joint development zones.
Traps: Questions may test the difference between nautical miles and statute miles; always use nautical miles in maritime boundaries. Another trap is confusing the contiguous zone (24 nm) with the EEZ (200 nm). Also, the continental shelf can extend beyond the EEZ under specific geological criteria, but the maximum is 350 nm from the baseline. Be careful with islands vs rocks: rocks that cannot sustain human habitation or economic life have no EEZ or continental shelf (Article 121(3)).
Rule of thumb: For delimitation between opposite or adjacent states, the provisional equidistance line is drawn first, then adjusted for special circumstances to achieve an equitable result. Worked example: Two states are 300 nm apart. The equidistance line is 150 nm from each coast. Each state's EEZ extends to 200 nm, but the equidistance line limits the overlap; the final boundary is the equidistance line unless special circumstances justify a shift.
Key terms: UNCLOS, baseline, territorial sea, contiguous zone, EEZ, continental shelf, equidistance, median line, special circumstances, equitable solution.