Posted: 2008-04-04 06:32pm
The Qudlivun Free State hereby proposes to all nations of this new world the establishment of the Law of the Sea. The Law of the Sea defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of the world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources.
This proposal establishes that the territorial waters of all nations to extend 12 nautical miles out from the internal waters (all water and waterways landward side of low-water coastal areas). The contiguous zone extends an additional 12 nautical miles beyond the territorial waters. Nation states which exist on archipelagoes or island chains are allowed to designate all waters between their islands as internal waters so long as they do not unnecessarily obstruct transit of vessels in an expeditious and continuous manner. For the purposes of waters, waterways and straits between two nations with a width less than 48 nautical miles between internal waters this accord evenly splits control of said water, waterway or strait between the two nations with zone boundaries adjusted accordingly.
Foreign vessels have no rights of passage through internal waters. All vessels (including military vessels) are permitted innocent passage through territorial waters including strategic straits so long as such transit is in a peaceful, non-threatening manner towards the controlling nation. However no foreign vessel is permitted to legally engage in acts such as fishing, polluting, weapons practice or spying in another's territorial waters and the government controlling the territorial water is permitted to shut down access to such waters as a temporary security measure. For the purpose of engaging in law enforcement activities (such as preventing illegal immigration or prevent smuggling) or develop offshore resources (such as drilling for oil or operating a fishery) a government is permitted to operate vessels in its contiguous zone, though it may not deny access to the area for the purpose of innocent passage of foreign vessels.
The waters encompassing internal, territorial and contiguous waters are also the full extent of the nation's exclusive economic zone, whereby the governing nation controlling those waters has sole exploitation rights of all natural resources within those waters. No nation state as a party of this accord may charge any fee, tax or tariff to any vessel for use of waters in accordance with this agreement. All other waters beyond the contiguous zone are international waters, free to vessels of all nations and owned by none of them.
This proposal also demands all signatories to take all reasonable measures to protect the marine environment and protect the freedom of research on the high seas.
Unrelated note: for the purpose of world maps just use the basic Bahrain political map as my territory at any point deemed appropriate.
EDIT 1: Added following line to fourth paragraph of Law of the Sea proposal: "No nation state as a party of this accord may charge any fee, tax or tariff to any vessel for use of waters in accordance with this agreement." Changed text size of map info since it is unrelated to the proposal.
EDIT 2: Restored original 12 nautical mile marks. Added line concerning waterways and passages less than necessary distance (proper dividing line requires 48 nautical miles between two nation states) at end of second paragraph: "For the purposes of waters, waterways and straits between two nations with a width less than 48 nautical miles between internal waters this accord evenly splits control of said water, waterway or strait between the two nations with zone boundaries adjusted accordingly."
This proposal establishes that the territorial waters of all nations to extend 12 nautical miles out from the internal waters (all water and waterways landward side of low-water coastal areas). The contiguous zone extends an additional 12 nautical miles beyond the territorial waters. Nation states which exist on archipelagoes or island chains are allowed to designate all waters between their islands as internal waters so long as they do not unnecessarily obstruct transit of vessels in an expeditious and continuous manner. For the purposes of waters, waterways and straits between two nations with a width less than 48 nautical miles between internal waters this accord evenly splits control of said water, waterway or strait between the two nations with zone boundaries adjusted accordingly.
Foreign vessels have no rights of passage through internal waters. All vessels (including military vessels) are permitted innocent passage through territorial waters including strategic straits so long as such transit is in a peaceful, non-threatening manner towards the controlling nation. However no foreign vessel is permitted to legally engage in acts such as fishing, polluting, weapons practice or spying in another's territorial waters and the government controlling the territorial water is permitted to shut down access to such waters as a temporary security measure. For the purpose of engaging in law enforcement activities (such as preventing illegal immigration or prevent smuggling) or develop offshore resources (such as drilling for oil or operating a fishery) a government is permitted to operate vessels in its contiguous zone, though it may not deny access to the area for the purpose of innocent passage of foreign vessels.
The waters encompassing internal, territorial and contiguous waters are also the full extent of the nation's exclusive economic zone, whereby the governing nation controlling those waters has sole exploitation rights of all natural resources within those waters. No nation state as a party of this accord may charge any fee, tax or tariff to any vessel for use of waters in accordance with this agreement. All other waters beyond the contiguous zone are international waters, free to vessels of all nations and owned by none of them.
This proposal also demands all signatories to take all reasonable measures to protect the marine environment and protect the freedom of research on the high seas.
Unrelated note: for the purpose of world maps just use the basic Bahrain political map as my territory at any point deemed appropriate.
EDIT 1: Added following line to fourth paragraph of Law of the Sea proposal: "No nation state as a party of this accord may charge any fee, tax or tariff to any vessel for use of waters in accordance with this agreement." Changed text size of map info since it is unrelated to the proposal.
EDIT 2: Restored original 12 nautical mile marks. Added line concerning waterways and passages less than necessary distance (proper dividing line requires 48 nautical miles between two nation states) at end of second paragraph: "For the purposes of waters, waterways and straits between two nations with a width less than 48 nautical miles between internal waters this accord evenly splits control of said water, waterway or strait between the two nations with zone boundaries adjusted accordingly."