Freedom of Navigation and the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), adopted in 1982 and entered into force in 1994, is the primary international legal framework governing maritime zones, navigation rights, and state conduct at sea. Under UNCLOS, naval vessels of all states have the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea (12 nautical miles) and unrestricted navigation through the high seas and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of other states.
- Territorial Sea: 12 nautical miles from the baseline — coastal state has full sovereignty; warships may exercise "innocent passage" (must be continuous and not prejudicial to peace).
- Contiguous Zone: 12-24 nautical miles — coastal state can exercise control for customs, immigration, sanitation enforcement.
- Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): 200 nautical miles — coastal state has sovereign rights over resources; but foreign ships have full navigational freedom.
- High Seas: beyond 200 nautical miles (or beyond any EEZ) — no state's sovereignty applies; complete freedom of navigation and overflight.
- The sinking occurred within Sri Lanka's EEZ (44 nautical miles from Galle) — a legally sensitive zone where Sri Lanka does not have jurisdiction over navigation itself but does have rights over the seabed and living resources.
- India has not ratified UNCLOS but follows most of its provisions as customary international law.
● Tracked since March 04, 2026 · last seen August 09, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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