The Law of the Sea

Question 1

What is the general rule of baselines?

Answer 1

at low tide, follow the contours of the coast to establish a baseline.

Question 2

When can a straight baseline be drawn?

Answer 2

When the coast of a coastal nation is unstable.

Question 3

What is a juridical bay?

Answer 3

an indentation in the coast that effectively establishes a natural bay. Established by the semi-circle test.

Question 4

What is a historic bay?

Answer 4

A bay that is exempt from normal rules of bays because of continuous, unequivocal and open exercise of authority by coastal nation over time.

Question 5

Archipelagic Baselines —

Answer 5

baselines not exceeding 100nm drawn by archipelagic states with a ratio of land to water of no more than 9:1.

Question 6

Territorial waters reach from where to where?

Answer 6

from the baseline to 12nm from the baseline.

Question 7

In territorial waters, the coastal nation has full sovereignty subject to what?

Answer 7

subject to right of safe passage/safe harbor, innocent passage, and assistance entry.

Question 8

Assistance passage (helping another ship in need of assistance) may be made without the coastal nation’s permission if what?

Answer 8

If the location of the distressed ship is reasonably well known.

Question 9

International waters includes what?

Answer 9

Contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones, and the high seas.

Question 10

What is the order of zones/waters?

Answer 10

Baseline > territorial waters > contiguous zone > exclusive economic zone > continental shelf > high seas.

Question 11

How far does the contiguous zone reach?

Answer 11

24nm from the baseline

Question 12

What is done in the contiguous zone?

Answer 12

Law enforcement zone

Question 13

A coastal nation has what in the contiguous zone?

Answer 13

Boarding rights

Question 14

How far does the EEZ reach?

Answer 14

200nm

Question 15

What nations have claims on the high seas?

Answer 15

None

Question 16

Ships have what in international straits?

Answer 16

Right of transit passage

Question 17

Ships have what in archipelagic sea lanes?

Answer 17

Sea lane passage

Question 18

Where does the national airspace begin?

Answer 18

Everything landward of the TTW

Question 19

Is there a right of safe passage in national airspace?

Answer 19

No

Question 20

To fly in national airspace, consent is required except when?

Answer 20

Transit passage, archipelagic sea lanes passage, distress or assistance entry.

Question 21

International airspace begins where?

Answer 21

Outer edge of the TTW

Question 22

What does an air defense identification zone require?

Answer 22

That aircraft in international airspace identify themselves as a prerequisite to entering national airspace.

Question 23

What is an island?

Answer 23

above water at low tide, sustains human habitation or economic life, naturally formed, claims territorial sea, contiguous zone, continental shelf, and EEZ.

Question 24

What is a rock?

Answer 24

above water at high tide, does not sustain life, must be naturally made, claims territorial sea only.

Question 25

Excessive maritime claims are violations of what?

Answer 25

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Question 26

What is sovereign immunity?

Answer 26

a right enjoyed by warships, naval auxiliaries, and all other ships owned or operated by the state and used for the time being exclusively for government non-commercial activities.

Question 27

Where are sovereign vessels immune from search, arrest, taxation, etc?

Answer 27

All waters

Question 28

What does MIO mean?

Answer 28

Maritime Interception Operation

Question 29

When may a vessel be boarded and searched?

Answer 29

When there is an UNSCR authorizing it or circumstances are met under UNCLOS Art. 110.