Convention on the Laws of the Seas

[Nathan]

Micras Treaty Organization Convention on the Laws of the Seas

All signatory parties of this treaty agree to the following:

1. The territory of a state extends 24 kilometers from the baseline coast of that state. This water is considered territorial water and subject to the full jurisdiction of the state. All matters of customs, taxation, and immigration operate as if wholly within the state.
2. The reserve zone of a state extends 360 kilometers from the baseline coast of that state. The economic and environmental resources within this zone belong fully to that state.
3. In special situations where the territorial waters or the reserve zone of two states would overlap, the line of separation will be drawn along the midpoint between the baseline of each state.
4. The baseline coast of state will be determined accordingly:
4.1. In localities where the coastline is deeply indented and cut into, or if there is a fringe of islands along the coast in its immediate vicinity, the method of straight baselines joining appropriate points may be employed in drawing the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
4.2. Where because of the presence of a delta and other natural conditions the coastline is highly unstable, the appropriate points may be selected along the furthest seaward extent of the low-water line and, notwithstanding subsequent regression of the low-water line, the straight baselines shall remain effective until changed by the coastal State in accordance with this Convention.
4.3. The drawing of straight baselines must not depart to any appreciable extent from the general direction of the coast, and the sea areas lying within the lines must be sufficiently closely linked to the land domain to be subject to the regime of internal waters.
4.4. Straight baselines shall not be drawn to and from low-tide elevations,unless lighthouses or similar installations which are permanently above sea level have been built on them or except in instances where the drawing of baselines to and from such elevations has received general international recognition.
4.5. Where the method of straight baselines is applicable under paragraph 4.1, account may be taken, in determining particular baselines, of economic interests peculiar to the region concerned, the reality and the importance of which are clearly evidenced by long usage.
4.6. The system of straight baselines may not be applied by a State in such a manner as to cut off the territorial sea of another State entirely from the high seas or a reserve zone.
5. Innocent Passage is permitted through territorial waters so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State. Such passage shall take place in conformity with this Convention and with other rules of international law.
5.1. Passage of a foreign ship shall be considered to be prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State if in the territorial sea it engages in any of the following activities:
5.2. any threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of the coastal State;
5.3. any exercise or practice with weapons of any kind;
5.4. any act aimed at collecting information to the prejudice of the defence or security of the coastal State;
5.5. any act of propaganda aimed at affecting the defence or security of the coastal State;
5.6. the launching, landing or taking on board of any aircraft;
5.7. the launching, landing or taking on board of any military device;
5.8. the loading or unloading of any commodity, currency or person contrary to the customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations of the coastal State;
5.9. any act of willful and serious pollution contrary to this Convention;
5.10. any fishing activities;
5.11. the carrying out of research or survey activities;
5.12. any act aimed at interfering with any systems of communication or any other facilities or installations of the coastal State;
5.13. any other activity not having a direct bearing on passage.
6. Transit passage is permitted through the reserve zone solely for the purpose of continuous and expeditious travel between one part of the international waters or reserve zone and another.
7. This treaty recognizes the following bodies of water as International Waters: Great Western Sea, Halberd Strait, Shire Sea, Central Sea, Gaeos Strait, Raynor Sea, Northern Sea, Strait of Pearls, O'Rear Strait, Dyre Straits, Captive Sea, Orange Sea, Sea of Storms, Austral Strait, Eastern Ocean, Pond Strait, Normark-Lindley Passage, New Brannum Strait, Inner Cibolan Sea, and all other open ocean that is beyond the reserve zone of every nation represented on the Micronational Cartography Society's map.
7.1. Any portion of International Waters that would otherwise be defined as the territorial water of a State is excluded from the definition of International Waters.
8. Acts of piracy, boarding with hostile intent, purposeful harm to a person, and purposeful obstruction of transit in International Waters are to be considered intolerable and go against the order and law of the high seas.

Representatives may further refine the wording of this proposed treaty until it enters the voting period on October 8.

[Liam Sinclair]

While Gotzborg is not presently managing territory on the Micras map, from our past experiences as a custodian of territory on that map, I believe this convention as drafted represents a fair and reasonable means of managing the often sensitive issue of territorial claims.

[Elijah Ayreon]

Your Excellencies,

The draft that we have before the Assembly is a good text. I have nothing to add to the specific provisions themselves on the law of the seas, but rather I seek the inclusion of certain provisions in the convention body itself.

1. The definition of which States can accede to the Convention (do they have to be MTO members?)

2. How the convention is amended.

3. A provision on the convention parties' relations to the perceived territorial waters of other states (non parties).

May I also propose a slight rewording of the title? "Convention of the Micras Treaty Organization on the Law of the Seas" is what I suggest.

[Nathan]

Good points.

Convention on the Laws of the Seas

1. Any nation that has signed the General Membership Treaty may sign this Convention.
2. The territory of a state extends 24 kilometers from the baseline coast of that state. This water is considered territorial water and subject to the full jurisdiction of the state. All matters of customs, taxation, and immigration operate as if wholly within the state.
3. The reserve zone of a state extends 360 kilometers from the baseline coast of that state. The economic and environmental resources within this zone belong fully to that state.
4. In special situations where the territorial waters or the reserve zone of two states would overlap, the line of separation will be drawn along the midpoint between the baseline of each state.
5. The baseline coast of state will be determined accordingly:
5.1. In localities where the coastline is deeply indented and cut into, or if there is a fringe of islands along the coast in its immediate vicinity, the method of straight baselines joining appropriate points may be employed in drawing the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
5.2. Where because of the presence of a delta and other natural conditions the coastline is highly unstable, the appropriate points may be selected along the furthest seaward extent of the low-water line and, notwithstanding subsequent regression of the low-water line, the straight baselines shall remain effective until changed by the coastal State in accordance with this Convention.
5.3. The drawing of straight baselines must not depart to any appreciable extent from the general direction of the coast, and the sea areas lying within the lines must be sufficiently closely linked to the land domain to be subject to the regime of internal waters.
5.4. Straight baselines shall not be drawn to and from low-tide elevations,unless lighthouses or similar installations which are permanently above sea level have been built on them or except in instances where the drawing of baselines to and from such elevations has received general international recognition.
5.5. Where the method of straight baselines is applicable under paragraph 4.1, account may be taken, in determining particular baselines, of economic interests peculiar to the region concerned, the reality and the importance of which are clearly evidenced by long usage.
5.6. The system of straight baselines may not be applied by a State in such a manner as to cut off the territorial sea of another State entirely from the high seas or a reserve zone.
6. Innocent Passage is permitted through territorial waters so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State. Such passage shall take place in conformity with this Convention and with other rules of international law.
6.1. Passage of a foreign ship shall be considered to be prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State if in the territorial sea it engages in any of the following activities:
6.2. any threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of the coastal State;
6.3. any exercise or practice with weapons of any kind;
6.4. any act aimed at collecting information to the prejudice of the defence or security of the coastal State;
6.5. any act of propaganda aimed at affecting the defence or security of the coastal State;
6.6. the launching, landing or taking on board of any aircraft;
6.7. the launching, landing or taking on board of any military device;
6.8. the loading or unloading of any commodity, currency or person contrary to the customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations of the coastal State;
6.9. any act of willful and serious pollution contrary to this Convention;
6.10. any fishing activities;
6.11. the carrying out of research or survey activities;
6.12. any act aimed at interfering with any systems of communication or any other facilities or installations of the coastal State;
6.13. any other activity not having a direct bearing on passage.
7. Transit passage is permitted through the reserve zone solely for the purpose of continuous and expeditious travel between one part of the international waters or reserve zone and another.
8. This treaty recognizes the following bodies of water as International Waters: Great Western Sea, Halberd Strait, Shire Sea, Central Sea, Gaeos Strait, Raynor Sea, Northern Sea, Strait of Pearls, O'Rear Strait, Dyre Straits, Captive Sea, Orange Sea, Sea of Storms, Austral Strait, Eastern Ocean, Pond Strait, Normark-Lindley Passage, New Brannum Strait, Inner Cibolan Sea, and all other open ocean that is beyond the reserve zone of every nation represented on the Micronational Cartography Society's map.
8.1. Any portion of International Waters that would otherwise be defined as the territorial water of a State is excluded from the definition of International Waters.
9. Acts of piracy, boarding with hostile intent, purposeful harm to a person, and purposeful obstruction of transit in International Waters are to be considered intolerable and go against the order and law of the high seas.
10. This convention may be amended by 3/4 majority of signatory nations.

I don't know what to do about how non-signatory nations would be dealt with.

[Orion]

I don't know what to do about how non-signatory nations would be dealt with.

Carpet bombing?

[Nathan]

As there were no other suggestions to amend this, this is the final version of the Convention:

Convention on the Laws of the Seas

1. Any nation that has signed the General Membership Treaty may sign this Convention.
2. The territory of a state extends 24 kilometers from the baseline coast of that state. This water is considered territorial water and subject to the full jurisdiction of the state. All matters of customs, taxation, and immigration operate as if wholly within the state.
3. The reserve zone of a state extends 360 kilometers from the baseline coast of that state. The economic and environmental resources within this zone belong fully to that state.
4. In special situations where the territorial waters or the reserve zone of two states would overlap, the line of separation will be drawn along the midpoint between the baseline of each state.
5. The baseline coast of state will be determined accordingly:
5.1. In localities where the coastline is deeply indented and cut into, or if there is a fringe of islands along the coast in its immediate vicinity, the method of straight baselines joining appropriate points may be employed in drawing the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
5.2. Where because of the presence of a delta and other natural conditions the coastline is highly unstable, the appropriate points may be selected along the furthest seaward extent of the low-water line and, notwithstanding subsequent regression of the low-water line, the straight baselines shall remain effective until changed by the coastal State in accordance with this Convention.
5.3. The drawing of straight baselines must not depart to any appreciable extent from the general direction of the coast, and the sea areas lying within the lines must be sufficiently closely linked to the land domain to be subject to the regime of internal waters.
5.4. Straight baselines shall not be drawn to and from low-tide elevations,unless lighthouses or similar installations which are permanently above sea level have been built on them or except in instances where the drawing of baselines to and from such elevations has received general international recognition.
5.5. Where the method of straight baselines is applicable under paragraph 4.1, account may be taken, in determining particular baselines, of economic interests peculiar to the region concerned, the reality and the importance of which are clearly evidenced by long usage.
5.6. The system of straight baselines may not be applied by a State in such a manner as to cut off the territorial sea of another State entirely from the high seas or a reserve zone.
6. Innocent Passage is permitted through territorial waters so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State. Such passage shall take place in conformity with this Convention and with other rules of international law.
6.1. Passage of a foreign ship shall be considered to be prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State if in the territorial sea it engages in any of the following activities:
6.2. any threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of the coastal State;
6.3. any exercise or practice with weapons of any kind;
6.4. any act aimed at collecting information to the prejudice of the defence or security of the coastal State;
6.5. any act of propaganda aimed at affecting the defence or security of the coastal State;
6.6. the launching, landing or taking on board of any aircraft;
6.7. the launching, landing or taking on board of any military device;
6.8. the loading or unloading of any commodity, currency or person contrary to the customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations of the coastal State;
6.9. any act of willful and serious pollution contrary to this Convention;
6.10. any fishing activities;
6.11. the carrying out of research or survey activities;
6.12. any act aimed at interfering with any systems of communication or any other facilities or installations of the coastal State;
6.13. any other activity not having a direct bearing on passage.
7. Transit passage is permitted through the reserve zone solely for the purpose of continuous and expeditious travel between one part of the international waters or reserve zone and another.
8. This treaty recognizes the following bodies of water as International Waters: Great Western Sea, Halberd Strait, Shire Sea, Central Sea, Gaeos Strait, Raynor Sea, Northern Sea, Strait of Pearls, O'Rear Strait, Dyre Straits, Captive Sea, Orange Sea, Sea of Storms, Austral Strait, Eastern Ocean, Pond Strait, Normark-Lindley Passage, New Brannum Strait, Inner Cibolan Sea, and all other open ocean that is beyond the reserve zone of every nation represented on the Micronational Cartography Society's map.
8.1. Any portion of International Waters that would otherwise be defined as the territorial water of a State is excluded from the definition of International Waters.
9. Acts of piracy, boarding with hostile intent, purposeful harm to a person, and purposeful obstruction of transit in International Waters are to be considered intolerable and go against the order and law of the high seas.
10. This convention may be amended by 3/4 majority of signatory nations.

Voting began today and will end on Friday. Remember, voting does not necessarily indicate an intention to sign, only support for the MTO to store and maintain the convention.

Natopia votes AYE.

[Elijah Ayreon]

Elwynn votes AYE.

[Liam Sinclair]

Gotzborg ABSTAINS given our present territorial situation.

[Orion]

Apollantis votes AYE.

[Nathan]

This has passed with a majority of the votes cast being in favor.

Hallelujah.