Convention on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone

The Convention on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone, established in 1958, is an international treaty that addresses maritime jurisdiction. It defines territorial waters as the sea area adjacent to a state's coast, subject to its jurisdiction, distinguishing them from internal waters and the high seas. Historically, the concept of territorial waters evolved, with a common compromise settling on a limit of 3 nautical miles.12

This convention affirmed that coastal states have sovereignty over their territorial waters, including the seabed, subsoil, and airspace, with the exception of the right of innocent passage for foreign merchant vessels. The convention also addressed contiguous zones, which extend beyond territorial waters, allowing coastal states limited jurisdiction for specific purposes like enforcing customs and sanitary regulations. While the 1958 convention was significant, a more comprehensive treaty on the Law of the Sea was signed in 1982.134