THE INTERNATIOHAL LAW OF THE SEA

International law governs maritime intercourse and is a body of rules which States consider they are bound to observe in their mutual relations.

The High Seas. When a State has a see boarder, a certain portion of the sea adjacent to its coasts is subject to its jurisdiction. The sea beyond the limits of territorial jurisdic­tion is called the high sea. It follows that no given State is entitled to occupy it.

Territorial Waters. The waters which are adjacent to a State’s territory are of two kinds:

a)territorial;

b)interior or national.

Territorial waters are those included within a definite maritime zone or belt adjacent to a State's territory; Within these waters, it is generally recognised that foreign Powers may claim certain rights for their vessels and their subjects, the chief of which is the right of innocent passage.

Interior or national waters, on the other hand, consist of State’s harbours, ports and roadsteads and of its internal gulfs and bays, straits, lakes and rivers. In these waters, apart from special conventions, foreign States, cannot, as a matter of strict law, demand any rights for their vessels or subjects although for reasons based on the interests of inter­national commerce and navigation, it may be asserted that an international custom has grown in modern times that the access of foreign vessels to these waters should not be refused except on compelling national grounds.

Bays and Gulfs. Bays which penetrate deep into the land are called gulfs. It is not so easy to lay down a definite rule on the limit of territorial waters in the case of Bays or gulfs. Bays not exceeding six miles across at the entrance are natio­nal waters when both sides belong to the same State. Some trea­ties consider the territorial belt as covering the whole bay when the distance between the two banks does not exceed ten miles.

Straits. Where the land on both sidesofastraitbelongsto the same Power, the waters are national ifthe widthattheentrance does not exceed six miles.

II. NOTES:

maritime intercourse - морские отношения, связи

adjacent - смежный, соседний

as a matter of strict law -дело, требующее строго соблюдения закона

on Compelling national grounds -подчинение национальным интересам

penetrate - проникать, проходить

III. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. What does the maritime intercourse govern?

2. How do we call the sea beyond the limits of territorial jurisdiction?

3. What two types of waters do you know?

4. How do we call bays which penetrate deep into the land?

5. When do we consider the watersof the bay national?

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