COSTAL Accords
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| Abbreviation | COSTAL |
|---|---|
| Formation | July 2016 |
| Type | Accord |
| Legal status | 14 current signatory nations, recognized by several more |
| Headquarters | Castille de Térro; La Républiqua D'Inyursta |
Official language | |
The Convention for Stability, Armament and Liberation (COSTAL) is an accord dedicated to redefining maritime boundaries to better fit modern technological advances.
Background
Signing
Text
Preamble
The Convention for Stability, Armament and Liberation, also known as COSTAL, seeks to define definitions, conditions and circumstances as well as recognize and solidify the mutually accepted rights of all signatory nations.
Section I: Maritime Boundaries
Section I of the COSTAL Accords hereby defines and recognizes the following definitions for the extent of a signatory nation's maritime boundaries:
Territorial Waters: Territorial waters are defined as coastal waters directly adjacent to any mass of land of the nation's homeland. Territorial waters include oceanic boundaries and shared open sea boundaries.
- In undisputed open ocean this treaty recognizes the right of members to claim up to three radar horizons (roughly 72-74km) off of the low water mark.
- In waters disputed between two nations this treaty recognizes the boundary for territorial waters as a direct bisection leaving two equal distances between either nation.
- In waters disputed between three or more nations this treaty makes no universal recognition, instead would/will declare recognition on a case-by-case basis.
Internal Waters: Internal Waters are defined as non-oceanic coastal, riverine and estuarine waters in which both sides form a contiguous coast between two bodies of a nation's homeland. Included are bays, harbors, coves, inland seas, lakes, gulfs, rivers, lagoons, ect.
- In island or archipelagic nations this is counted as space between nearby islands.
- In no instance is this to include external, territorial, colonial or otherwise non-homeland holdings.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): The Exclusive Economic Zone is defined as oceanic waters directly adjacent to a nation's coast. These waters are reserved for exclusive commercial use by said nation, but are otherwise considered international waters.
- In mainland nations this is extended out to the limit of the continental shelf or 370km (200 nautical miles) - whichever value is greater - in undisputed waters.
- In island or archipelagic nations without a continental shelf, this limit is recognized at 370km (200 nautical miles) in undisputed waters.
Section II: Rights of Signatory Nations
Signatory nations are garunteed the following rights in regards to waters under their control:
- The right to define and enforce laws over territorial waters, including the denial of foreign military vessels and the right to set designated routes of travel through these waters.
- The right to stop and search any vessel that enters territorial waters.
- The right to full and unquestioned and infinite sovereignty over internal waters as they would over land territory.
- The right to unquestioned self-defense of internal waters
- The right to exclusive commercial use of EEZ waters
- The right of unarmed and entirely civilian vessels to travel unharmed across all international waters
Section III: Trade and Economic Exchange
This convention promotes and encourages maritime trade between signatory nations, however makes no garuntee or enforcement of these ideals.
This convention also recognizes foreign trade and passage for economic reasons to be a privilege and not a right, and affirms the right of signatory nations to deny and deter unwanted foreign vessels from their waters.
