innocent passage

In international law, innocent passage refers to the right of foreign ships to travel through another country's territorial waters. This passage is considered innocent as long as the vessel does not engage in prohibited activities such as weapons testing, spying, pollution, or scientific research.1

When territorial waters are part of straits crucial for international navigation, the right of innocent passage is often replaced by transit passage, which imposes fewer restrictions on foreign ships. Beyond territorial waters, in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), foreign vessels have freedom of movement, though the coastal state has rights to exploit resources and regulate scientific research. The concept is distinct from the broader freedom of navigation, which pertains to broader rights of passage, particularly in international waters.12