An Examination Of The Legal Regime Of The Coastal States Under The Unclos

ABSTRACT

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) also referred to

as the law of the sea convention is the international agreement that resulted from the

third United Nations Conference on the law of the sea (UNCLOS III). The law of

the sea convention defines the maritime zones, the rights, responsibilities and

limitations to the rights of the coastal states with respect to their use of the world's

oceans. The UNCLOS codified many aspects of customary international law and

also incorporated several modem issues like environment, fisheries, and coastal zone

management. Despite the phenomenal contribution of the convention, several

challenges remain, including excessive proliferation of maritime claims, and

criminal activity at sea under false flag state control. The study seeks to investigate

these situations and concludes with several recommendations.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARA.TION ............................................................................................. i

APPROVAL •..•.....•....................•.•....•..•............•..•..•.•........•.•......... ii

DEDICATION ............................................................................................. iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ......•.................•.......•.............•......•.................•................. iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................. v

TABLE 0 F CASES ..................................................................................................................... vii

TABLE OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ............................................................... viii

TABLE OF ACRONYMS .•..............•.•......................................•.................... ix

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................ X

CHAPTER ONE ........•.•....•.•.................•..•......•.......•.........•.•......•......... 1

GENERAL INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... -. .............. 1

1.1 Background of the study ........................................................................................................... 1

1.2 The problem Statement .............................................................................................. 2

1.3 Aim and objectives of the study ................................................................................................ 3

1.4 Methodology .................................................................................................. 3

1.5 Scope of the study ............................................................................................... 3

1.6 Significance of the study ........................................................................................................... 4

1. 7 Literature Review ................................................................................................ 4

1.8 Organizational layout ................................................................................................ 4

CHAPTER TWO ....................•....................•.................•.......................... 6

MARITIME ZONES UNDER THE UNCLOS •••••.•....•.••••••••••.•....•.•..•••••••••.•..•.••..••••••••......••..... 6

2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................. 6

2.1 Internal waters ................................................................................................... 6

2.2 Territorial sea .................................................................................................. 7

2.3 Contiguous zone ................................................................................................ 8

2.4 Exclusive Economic Zone ........................................................................................................ 9

2.5 High seas ................................................................................................ 10

CHAPTER THREE ........•.•..............•.•.•...............................•................................•.....•............... 12

THE RIGHTS OF THE COASTAL STATE .•.............•..............•.•....•..•........•.....•................... 12

v

3.0 Introduction .............................................................................................. 12

3.1 Right to suspend foreign ship and take the necessary steps to prevent any breach of condition

to which admission of those ships to internal waters or such a port is subject ............................. 12

3 ·?- Ri g h t to exerci. se cn.r m. na ! and C.I VI" 1J" un.s e li cti.o n .................................................................... . 14

3.3 The right to protect and preserve the marine environment ..................................................... 15

3.4 The right to establish and use of artificial island and installations and structures .................. 16

3.5 Freedom on the High seas ........................................................................................... 19

3.6 Right to establish conditions on pipeline entering its territory or territorial sea .................... 21

3. 7 Right to levy charges on foreign ships passing through the territorial sea ............................. 22

CHAPTER FOUR ...............................................•......•.......................... 24

LIMITATION TO THE RIGHTS OF THE COASTAL STATES ••••.••.•.•..•.•..••.•••••••••......•... 24

4.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 24

4 . 1 LI. mi.t ati.O n to exerci. se cn.r m. na1 and CI.V I" 1 J.U ri.S d "I ct.w n ............................................................. _? 4

4.2 Limitation in exercising the rights, jurisdiction and duties in the EEZ .................................. 27

4.3 Limitation on the construction of artificial islands, installations and structures .................... 27

4.4 The continental shelf not to extend beyond limits provided in the UNCLOS ........................ 28

4.5 Freedom ofNavigation on the high seas ................................................................................. 30

4.6 Inununity of warships and ships used on government non-commercial services ................... 3 I

CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................. 33

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .....•....................•....•............•....•.•.•...•.•.......... 33

5.1 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 33

5.2 Recommendations ............................................................................................ 33

REFERENCES ..•.•..•.•......•.............•.•.•...•...........•.•.•....•....•........... 35