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Questions tagged [law-of-the-sea]

Law of the Sea is a body of international law governing the rights and duties of states in maritime environments.

Law of the sea is the public law counterpart to admiralty law (also known as maritime law), which applies to private maritime issues, such as the carriage of goods by sea, rights of salvage, ship collisions, and marine insurance.

Law of the Sea is a body of international law governing the rights and duties of states in maritime environments. It concerns matters such as navigational rights, sea mineral claims, and coastal waters jurisdiction.

While drawn from a number of international customs, treaties, and agreements, modern law of the sea derives largely from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), effective since 1994, which is generally accepted as a codification of customary international law of the sea, and is sometimes regarded as the "constitution of the oceans".

Law of the sea is the public law counterpart to admiralty law (also known as maritime law), which applies to private maritime issues, such as the carriage of goods by sea, rights of salvage, ship collisions, and marine insurance.

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Using international waters to provide illicit activities near a country

Let's assume I have a ship flagged in a country where certain activities are legal but are not in most of other countries (like, for instance, drug use or prostitution are in Netherlands). Let's assume again that I fullfill every aspect to lawfully…
gmauch
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How much ocean does a person with a beachhouse own and what can he do with it?

Assume a person owns a beach house in California. How far into the ocean does this person own as a landowner? Does the person own all coral reef, rocks and other things in the ocean in his owner portion of the ocean? How far are ships allowed to…
Michael d
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On the legality of arming yachts and other recreational craft at sea

Is it legal or applicable to arm yachts or other recreational vessels for defense against piracy, thieves, terrorism, etc?
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Is it illegal to drop boulders into the sea?

The BBC has a video in which those opposing Greenpeace say so A Greenpeace ship has been dropping huge boulders into the sea off Brighton this week to stop fishing boats from trawling the sea bed. [...] But leaders of the fishing community describe…
Looking for loopholes
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Was being left in the Pacific in a lifeboat considered attempted murder in 1872?

It's 1872 and Mr. Fogg is having his journey around the world, and let's take the TV series adaption of 2021 as the basis. The situation at hand in Episode 6 is as follows: Taking a Steamship Carnatic under the British flag, just like in the book,…
Trish
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What was the basis in international law for the seizure of the Iranian tanker Grace 1?

As far as I can make out, the Iranian tanker Grace 1 was seized by Gibraltar whilst it was travelling through Gibraltar's territorial waters. See e.g. this article. The stated basis for the seizure was that it was suspected of violating EU sanctions…
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International enforcement of dirty ship "laws"

Apparently there are some "laws" that make it illegal to sail dirty ships in international waters. I read an article giving only the information that "Maritime laws prohibit stained tankers from navigating international waters." with no further…
Cicero
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What is the meaning and the implications of Art. 27, GG (German Basic Law)?

What is the meaning and the implications of Art. 27, GG (German Basic Law)? Alle deutschen Kauffahrteischiffe bilden eine einheitliche Handelsflotte. I suspect it has something to do with maritime law, but I cannot find any explanations of its…
Richard Neumann
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Floating drug laboratory in international waters

This morning I read about Hongkongers being charged for operating a floating drug laboratory in front of the Phillipines coast. What would be the legal grounds for this operation in case these Hongkongers stayed at all time in international waters?…
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On the legality of seizing narco yachts

Allegedly, in February 2007, some 100 nautical miles northeast of the Madeira Archipelago, Portuguese frogmen boarded the Spanish-flagged yacht Blaus VII and found 3 Greek sailors and 1500 kilograms of cocaine on board. Today, the aforementioned…
Rodrigo de Azevedo
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When does US state law apply on the high seas?

Closely related: What is the furthest point from land at sea where individual U.S. state laws apply? , but in reference to US territorial waters. It is pretty clear that at least some US federal laws applies to US-flagged ships on the high seas (not…
Robert Columbia
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Does the Order of Malta have the right to register ships?

The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, though territory-less since the French invasion of Malta in 1798, does issue passports and does maintain relations with over 100 states. One of the…
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What laws regulate the use and ownership of firearms by British-flagged ships?

Firearms are heavily regulated in the UK, especially handguns and automatic weapons, after several horrific shootings in the late 20th century. Long-guns, such as shotguns and rifles are also tightly controled, one or more licenses being required.…
Space fighter
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Are there laws regarding boarding cruise ships while at sea?

I don't know the technical term for it, but some people actually have told me a thing exists where people board cruise ships from the middle of the sea without paying. Given that there's no jail/confinement facility on these ships and the company…
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Can someone by prosecuted if they commit a crime outside of all jurisdictions?

Scenario: Fred and his wife Sue are crossing the Atlantic Ocean on their yacht and are hundreds of miles from the closest nation. They jump into the water for a quick swim, and while in the water, Fred drowns Sue. Out of confidence, he even live…
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