The contiguous zone is a strip of water in the open sea. Ships can freely pass through it. It borders on the territorial waters of a state. This area is under the jurisdiction of a particular country. This allows you to ensure compliance with all rules and laws that relate to customs, immigration, the environment and so on.
Geneva Convention on the Zone
In 1958, a convention was adopted, according to which this zone cannot extend to a distance exceeding 12 miles from the baseline that limits the territorial sea from the coast. That is, together with the width of this sea, the contiguous zone should not exceed 12 miles. The state in it may exercise control over compliance with sanitary, customs, immigration and fiscal rules. For their violation may be followed by prosecution and punishment.
If the shores of two states are too close to each other, none of them has the right to extend their adjacent zone beyond the midline. This middle line is drawn in such a way that each part of it is at the same distance from the original lines. The territorial waters of both states are counted from the same marks.
UN Convention
This convention, in force since 1982, confirms the rules established by the convention in Geneva. However, changes were made.
The joint width of the territorial sea and the adjacent area following it has doubled in international law. If it was 12 miles, then it became 24. And this is the maximum permissible width.
In the adjacent zone, the actions of the state are very limited in comparison with territorial waters. They come down to state control over compliance with laws and to punishment of violators of all kinds of established rules.
Adjacent Mode
The coastal state itself determines the authorities and their powers to control this section of the sea. The coastal state has the following control rights:
- Authorities have the right to stop any ship.
- The right to inspect the vessel.
- In case of violation, the state may take measures to conduct an investigation to identify the circumstances of violation of the law.
- The state has the right to punish an offense.
- If the regime in the adjacent zone is violated, the state has the right to prosecute the offender, even on the high seas. But if only the persecution is conducted "in hot pursuit." That is, it begins in the contiguous zone and occurs continuously.
- You can only pursue those violators who violated the rules in the area where these rules are established. The state should not, in exercising its own rights, violate the rights of other states lawfully residing in this zone.
Federal Law of the Russian Federation
In 1998, a federal law was issued in Russia covering this topic, as well as territorial and inland waters. This law is still valid. According to him, the adjacent zone of the Russian Federation is a zone of the sea space, which adjoins the strip of the territorial sea. It stretches along the entire coast. On the outside, the border of this zone is located 24 miles from the line where the territorial waters begin to count.
Control in the waters of the Russian Federation
Russia's actions in the contiguous zone are as follows:
- Control over how the sanitary, customs, fiscal and immigration rules are observed, which are spelled out in the laws in force within the territories of the Russian Federation, which include the sea space.
- The implementation of punishments for violation of all these rules and laws committed on the territory of Russia, including the space of the seas. Thus, we can conclude that the Federal Law of Russia does not differ from the UN Convention regarding the adjacent zone.
Kinds
There are different types of adjacent areas. These are sanitary, fiscal, customs and immigration zones. They are established by relevant laws and sometimes international treaties. They are known in international practice. So, for example, sanitary zones are established by the Arab states. India has established a fiscal and immigration zone.
But, in addition to these species, there are others. Some states have established zones of criminal jurisdiction, some have zones of neutrality. There are also pollution prevention zones. The countries of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Burma (Myanmar), India, Vietnam, Sudan have created coastal security zones.
Although if the existence of such species was allowed before the UN convention, then after 1982 it no longer exists. The establishment of adjacent areas, in addition to the designated types - sanitary, fiscal, customs and immigration - is not permissible and is unlawful from the standpoint of international law.
Territorial sea
This is a part of the sea that is located between the inland sea waters and the adjacent area. This is a strip of sea that stretches along the entire coast, adjacent to the land. Its other name is territorial waters. This zone has its own characteristics. Unlike the adjacent zone and inland sea waters, the territorial sea is located closer to the coast, but does not go into shallow bays and ports, and is part of the state.
It is measured either from the line of maximum low tide, or from the source lines, which serve as the boundary between the territorial sea and inland waters. The latter include the waters of small bays, ports, sea bays, formed by rivers of estuaries and lips, limited by the source lines. The width of the territorial sea of ββall states with water areas is 12 miles. The border between the contiguous zone and the territorial sea is at the same time the border of the state.
Laws and regulations in this area
Territorial waters are located closer to the coast and enter the territory of the coastal state. Therefore, the sovereignty of the country extends to this stretch of sea space. But at the same time, ships from other countries can pass through this zone, as well as along the waters of the adjacent zone. Only if these vessels cross this territory peacefully without threatening the security of the country.
The state has the right to establish its own laws, which will determine shipping in this area. Laws and regulations are needed to make shipping in this area safe and convenient, to provide protection for navigation equipment and facilities.
In addition, the state is trying by various measures to prevent water pollution, some sections of the territorial sea may be closed for ships. Ships from other countries are required to comply with established rules and laws, in case of violations the state has the right to punish, impose a fine or institute criminal proceedings.