Contiguous Zone


In maritime law, the contiguous zone is a band of water extending from the outer edge of a coastal state's territorial sea to up to 24 nautical miles (44.4 km; 27.6 mi) from the baseline, within which the coastal state may exercise the control necessary to prevent and punish infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations within its territory or territorial sea. The contiguous zone is an extension of a state's sovereignty. However, unlike the territorial sea, the contiguous zone does not confer full sovereignty on the coastal state. The rights of innocent passage and transit passage, as well as those of high seas freedoms such as overflight, still apply in the contiguous zone.


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