As per UNCLOS what are the sovereign rights and jurisdictions applicable to the coastal state and Flag state of the vessel in various maritime zones of the coastal state?
Short answer
| Zone (limit from baseline) | Coastal State | Flag State / foreign ship |
|---|---|---|
| INTERNAL WATERS | Full SOVEREIGNTY | Subject to coastal State sovereignty |
| TERRITORIAL SEA (up to 12 nm) | SOVEREIGNTY subject to UNCLOS; laws on navigation, resources, pollution | RIGHT OF INNOCENT PASSAGE; comply with coastal State laws and COLREG |
| CONTIGUOUS ZONE (up to 24 nm) | CONTROL for CUSTOMS, FISCAL, IMMIGRATION, SANITARY | EEZ/high-seas freedoms apply |
| EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE (up to 200 nm) | SOVEREIGN RIGHTS over resources; JURISDICTION over installations, research, environment | Freedoms of navigation, overflight; flag State keeps EXCLUSIVE jurisdiction over internal affairs |
| CONTINENTAL SHELF | SOVEREIGN RIGHTS over seabed resources | High-seas status for waters above |
| HIGH SEAS | No sovereignty | EXCLUSIVE FLAG-STATE JURISDICTION |
- Trap: sovereignty vs sovereign rights: full power in INTERNAL WATERS and TERRITORIAL SEA; limited to resources/environment in EEZ and CONTINENTAL SHELF.
- Coastal State may NOT impose design or manning rules on foreign ships in TERRITORIAL SEA except international standards.
- In EEZ, flag State retains EXCLUSIVE jurisdiction over ship’s internal affairs; coastal State enforces pollution laws only if conforming to MARPOL.
- HIGH SEAS: flag State has full jurisdiction; exceptions: piracy, hot pursuit.
Full answer
The full answer explains each point step by step, with the regulations and figures behind it and the discussion from other candidates. It is in the MEO Class I section of the Marine One forum, open to members enrolled for the MEO Class I exam.