Public International Law
1. Law of the Sea: Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Continental Shelf, EEZ & Emerging Issues The law of the sea, now comprehensively codified under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) , represents a transition from the classical doctrine of freedom of the seas (propounded by Hugo Grotius ) to a system of zonal maritime jurisdiction , balancing coastal state rights with global commons. I. Territorial Sea The territorial sea extends up to 12 nautical miles (Article 3 UNCLOS), where the coastal state exercises sovereignty subject to innocent passage . Case Law Integration Corfu Channel Case (UK v Albania) Facts: British warships passing through Albanian waters struck mines; UK claimed innocent passage. Issue: Whether warships enjoy innocent passage without prior consent. Ratio: The ICJ held that innocent passage through straits used for international navigation is a customary right , even for warships. Implication: Sovereignty over territorial sea is ...