Baseline (sea)

The baseline is the basis for determining the in the Convention of the United Nations ( UNCLOS ) above sea zones.

Term

The maritime zones seaward part of the territory of the coastal State; this is described as the territorial sea. Thus by means of the baseline setting a maritime border. In the territorial sea of ​​the State has full sovereignty ( sovereignty ).

Furthermore, using the baseline further defined in the law of the sea marine zones in which a state may exercise sovereign rights, but not part of the territory, delimited:

  • Contiguous zone
  • Exclusive Economic Zone
  • Continental shelf

All landward side of the baseline lying marine parts are referred to as internal waters. This part of the national territory and are subject to the full sovereignty of the coastal state. In contrast to the territorial sea there is here no right of innocent passage.

Establishing

The baseline is determined by the respective coastal State. The so-called normal baseline is registered in the charts officially recognized large-scale low-water line along the coast.

On coasts with deep cuts, bays, estuaries or offshore island chains, the baseline can be determined according to the method of straight baseline. Here, appropriate points of the normal base line are connected by straight line segments, with the resulting baseline may not deviate significantly from the general course of the sea ( UNCLOS Article 7 ). This scheme can be applied eg for bays and estuaries with an opening to the open sea of less than 24 nautical miles (Art. 10 para 4 UNCLOS ) or estuaries (Art. 9 UNCLOS). Similarly, the method of straight baseline shall be applied where offshore islands a "parallel coast ", so a side sea which is connected at any point in a width of more than 12 nautical miles to the open sea forms. By applying the method of straight baseline caused internal waters ( see above).

In the case of archipelagos archipelagic waters may be included in the baseline, for which special rules apply.

The baselines or the derived limits are entered in charts of the state or specify a directory of geographical coordinates and publish. A copy of the map or chart of the directory is to be deposited with the Secretary General of the United Nations.

Germany

Germany has largely made ​​progress in defining its maritime borders in the North and Baltic Sea by the method of straight baselines use. The coordinates of the baselines and the seaward limit of the territorial sea are in the Seegrenzkarten No. 2920 ( North Sea) and 2921 (Baltic ) of the BSH published. By this method by determining geographical coordinates ensures that changes in the definition of the low water Bezuges - such as changing the chart datum to Lowest Astronomical Tide ( LAT) - have no effect on the boundaries.

International waters
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