These are the laws and regulations that govern activity in the Arctic
USA. Russia. China. Great Britain. Norway. All warnings of warships and possible conflict in the Arctic. But there are also rights and prohibitions. Here is a review.
Briefly explained:
- Ice smelters in the Arctic. It makes it easier to sail here for merchant ships, tourist ships, research ships – and warships.
- Russia wants to dominate and control the sea route through the Arctic.
- So does the United States.
- The United States claims that Russia and China will change the rules of the game for the Arctic. The United States warns that it will use all force necessary to protect them.
1. This governs sailing in the Arctic today
The countries bordering the Arctic have maritime territories that extend beyond their own coast. The laws of these countries apply here.
Outside these areas, international law of the sea applies. But also special agreements, which, for example, must take care of environmental considerations.
2. She rules Norway
Norway has land, sea and air territory. The rules on Norwegian sovereignty and Norwegian laws, which Norway can enforce, apply here. Here, Norway has the right to defend itself if other countries should attack.
The maritime territory is calculated from what is called the baseline, and extends 12 nautical miles from this. The baseline often protrudes further than the visible coastline.
In addition, Norway has an economic zone, a protection zone and a fishing zone. Also in these zones a state has sovereign rights. The economic zone is 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
This map shows the countries’ maritime borders:
3. Different rules on sea and land
No cars have straight to drive through Norway on Norwegian roads. At sea it is different.
Here, all vessels can sail through Norwegian territory. This right is governed by international law The Law of the Sea Treaty.
4. This is the Law of the Sea Treaty
This must safeguard the interests of the coastal states. At the same time, there must be interest in all so-called flag states.
All vessels must be registered in a ship register. The flag they fly is the flag of the state in which they are registered.
5. What happens when someone breaks the rules?
Should other states threaten Norwegian rights within our economic zone, and wish to govern this area according to their own laws, a military conflict may arise between the countries.
For civilians, other rules apply. If it is foreign citizens who violate Norwegian rights, such as by fishing in the Norwegian zone, it is the citizens and not their home country who will be held accountable.
6. What happens when military exercises collide with fishing?
Conflicts can arise between coastal states and flag states. As a large coastal state, the United States has been particularly concerned with the “freedom of navigation” of the law of the sea, ie the right to sail in economic zones and on the high seas.
Military vessels can not only sail in other countries’ economic zones. They have a certain right to conduct military exercises here.
For example: In mid-February, Russia issued a warning for large parts of the Barents Sea and the Norwegian economic zone. They were to test rockets. It happened at the same time as around 100 Norwegian vessels fished here. The fishermen, who left the area, perceived the Russian exercise as a crossing of Norway as a coastal state.
7. What is the continental shelf?
Coastal states also have a continental shelf. In the case of the Arctic, these are areas below the seabed that extend from the coastline and in the direction of the North Pole.
The continental shelf can go beyond 200 nautical miles. Also in this area, the shelf will belong to a country. The country wants sovereign and exclusive rights here. The water above the bottom is free for everyone. Norway and Russia have become the only ones on where the borders go between the countries’ continental shelf. It’s called the dividing line.
There are also areas outside the country’s continental shelf. In the law of the sea, this is referred to as «the Area». In this area, underground mining can be conducted – under the auspices of the state, which assumes responsibility. Rules for the business must be formulated in accordance with the contract the mining company enters into with ISA, the international body that manages the area.
8. What does “right to visit” mean?
There is also something called “visitation right”. The United States has a number of such agreements with other countries.
Among other things, they have a permit to control other countries’ vessels in the Caribbean, as part of the fight against drug smuggling.
9. This is the Norwegian guard in the Arctic
US reports warn that warships from several countries may follow merchant ships through the Arctic. It is also announced that more countries will want to fish in areas where it is currently prohibited.
The Coast Guard is usually in charge of fisheries supervision. The Norwegian Coast Guard is mostly military, but some vessels also have civilians on board. The ships have cannons, but are basically not combat vessels.
In addition to marking Norwegian sovereignty and conducting fisheries supervision, the Coast Guard will assist with search and rescue, for everyone who travels in the Arctic.
Norwegian sovereignty is also safeguarded by warships, such as the Norwegian frigates.
10. This is how they can intervene against pirates
The Convention on the Law of the Sea also allows military vessels to intervene against pirates, as was done in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia. They can also crack down on the slave trade. Well note if the countries behind the vessels have laws that allow for this. A Norwegian frigate participated in the hunt for pirates in the Gulf of Aden from 2009 to 2013.
Source of factual information in this article: Navy