The main difference between territorial sea and contiguous zone is their positioning. The territorial sea extends about 12 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state, while the contiguous zone extends farther from the outer edge of the territorial sea to up to about 24 nautical miles from the baseline.
Territorial sea and contiguous zone are two maritime zones overlapping with each other. Moreover, both of them are measured from the same baselines. States use both these maritime zones to exercise control or sovereignty.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Territorial Sea
– Definition, Features
2. What is a Contiguous Zone
– Definition, Features
3. Similarities Between Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Maritime Zones
What is Territorial Sea
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982), a territorial sea is the belt of coastal waters that extend at most 12 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state. When understanding this definition, it’s important to know that 1 nautical mile is equal to around 1.15 miles on land and that a baseline refers to a low-water mark. Moreover, territorial seas are the most straightforward zone. We generally consider this zone to be the sovereign territory of the state – this means, a coastal state has sovereignty as well as jurisdiction over its territorial sea. This sovereignty extends to the seabed, subsoil, as well as airspace over the sea.
Figure 1: Territorial Sea of Indonesia
However, foreign ships (both civilian and military) are allowed innocent passage through the territorial sea or transit passage for straits through it. This also extends to the seabed below and airspace over. If one state’s territorial sea overlaps with another, the border is considered the median point between the two state’s baselines. Furthermore, a state can also agree to claim a smaller zone for its territorial sea (i.e., less than 12 miles). In international law, adjustment to the boundaries of maritime zones is known as maritime delimitation.
What is a Contiguous Zone
The contiguous zone is the belt of water that extends farther from the outward edge of the territorial sea to up to 24 nautical miles from the baseline. This maritime zone strengthens a state’s law enforcement capacity and prevents criminals from escaping the territorial sea. Within territorial seas and contiguous zone, a state has a right to prevent and punish infringement of fiscal, immigration, sanitary, and customs laws. However, a state only has jurisdiction over the ocean’s surface and floor of a contiguous zone; in fact, it does not have air and space rights.
Figure 2: Maritime Zones
A contiguous zone of a state is typically 12 nautical miles. But sometimes, there can be variations. Unlike the territorial sea, if there is overlap between zones in two states, there is no standard rule for resolving it. The states must negotiate their own compromise in such a conflict.
Similarities Between Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone
- Territorial sea and contiguous zone are two maritime zones overlapping with each other.
- In fact, both of them are measured from the same baselines.
- Moreover, each of them is usually 12 nautical miles.
- States use both of these maritime zones to exercise control or sovereignty over their sea.
Difference Between Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone
Definition
The territorial sea is the belt of coastal waters that extends about 12 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state, while the contiguous zone is the belt of water that extends farther from the outward edge of the territorial sea to up to 24 nautical miles from the baseline.
Rights
A coastal state has rights over the ocean surface, seabed, and subsoil, as well as the airspace over its territorial sea. However, a state only has jurisdiction over the ocean’s surface and seabed of a contiguous zone; it does not have air and space rights.
Overlap of Zones
If one state’s territorial sea overlaps with another, the border is considered the median point between the two state’s baselines. But if there is overlap between contiguous zones in two states, there is no standard rule for resolving it and the states must negotiate their own solution.
Conclusion
The main difference between territorial sea and contiguous zone is that the territorial sea extends about 12 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state, while the contiguous zone extends farther from the outer edge of the territorial sea to up to about 24 nautical miles from the baseline.
Reference:
1. “Territorial waters.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
2. “Maritime Zones.” Law of the Sea. The Fletcher School, Tuft University.
Image Courtesy:
1. “ID TW EEZ” By Afrogindahood – Official geospatial map of IndonesiaBase map is File:Indonesia location map.svg by Uwe Dedering (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “UNCLOS-en” By Antonioptg – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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