Convention on the Laws of the Seas

The Convention on the Laws of the Seas is an international treaty, formally an ancillary treaty of the Micras Treaty Organisation, that governs sovereign claims in the seas of Micras. As such, the treaty clarifies what the MCS does not.

The convention was created through an international conference, ongoing from 1591 AN to 1593 AN. Participating countries were Alexandria, Apollantis, Batavia, Craitland, Elwynn, Natopia, Ocia, Shireroth, Stormark. Jingdao joined the conference, but quickly left the conference in protest to the presence of Alexandrian representatives (Jingdao had broken off relations with Alexandria around the same time). In 1593 AN, a final draft was reached which was sent to the MTO countries for ratification. The same year, Elwynn was the first country to ratify the convention.

In 1709 AN, the treaty was de-coupled from the Micras Treaty Organisation and thus becoming open for signature and accession by all MCS countries.

State Parties

State Party	Accession	Comments
Benacian Union	1709 AN	First non-MTO party
Çakaristan	1707 AN
Cerulea	1722 AN
Constancia	1709 AN
Dark Berry Islands	1716 AN
Floria	1705 AN
Hexarchy	1688 AN
Hurmu	1690 AN
Imperial Federation	1709 AN
Meckelnburgh	1699 AN	With reservation: the waters shoreward of the baseline of the Crowsilver Sea are internal waters.
Natopia	1595 AN
Normark	1705 AN	Covered by Elwynn 1593 AN–1600 AN, Natopia 1615 AN–1678 AN, and Elwynn, again, 1678 AN–1703 AN
Nouvelle Alexandrie	1697 AN
Oportia	1731 AN
Sanama	1688 AN	Covered by Shireroth, 1595 AN–1671 AN
Senya	1709 AN	Had unofficially followed the convention since 1593 AN and in official policy since 1671 AN, with the exception of the boundary along the Camoleo River, as per the agreement with Jingdao. Signed the convention formally upon its decoupling from the MTO.
Shireroth	1595 AN
Zeed	1689 AN

Text

1. Any State, that is concurrently a member of the Micras Cartography Society, may accede to 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 is governed by the state parties to it.

10.1 The state parties shall, in regular intervals, decide on a state party between them to be a presiding state party.

10.2 The presiding state party shall host regular conference of state parties, and bear witness to accessions to the Convention, and departures from the Convention.

10.3 The conference of state parties may issue resolutions under this convention.

11. This convention may be amended by the approval of at least three quarters of the state parties to the Convention.