Difference between Territorial Sea (TS) and (CS) Continental Shelf

Difference between TS and CS.
TS vs CS.

Comparison between  Territorial Sea (TS) and (CS) Continental Shelf 

Territorial Sea (TS) vs (CS) Continental Shelf 

Definition

Territorial Sea (TS)

According to Article 3 of United Nations Convention on Law of The Sea (UNCLOS) III

Every State has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea upto  a  limit  not  exceeding  12  nautical  miles,  measured  from  baselines determined in accordance with this Convention.

If this would overlap with another state's territorial sea, the border is taken as the median point between the states' baselines, unless the states in question agree otherwise. A state can also choose to claim a smaller territorial sea.

Continental Shelf (CS) 

According to Article 76 of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) III

- The continental shelf of a coastal State comprises the seabed and subsoil  of  the  submarine  areas  that  extend  beyond  its  territorial  sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the  continental  margin,  or  to  a  distance  of  200  nautical  miles  from  the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance.

- The continental shelf of a coastal State shall not extend beyond the limits provided for in paragraphs 4 to 6.

- The continental margin comprises the submerged prolongation of the land mass of the coastal State, and consists of the seabed and subsoil of the shelf, the slope and the rise.  It does not include the deep ocean floor with its oceanic ridges or the subsoil thereof.

-  For  the  purposes  of  this  Convention,  the  coastal  State  shall establish the outer edge of the continental margin wherever the margin extends beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines
from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured,

- The  fixed  points  comprising  the  line  of  the  outer  limits  of  the continental shelf on the seabed, drawn in accordance with paragraph 4 (a)(i) and (ii), either shall not exceed 350 nautical miles from the baselines.


Area

Territorial Sea (TS)

Maximum 12 nautical miles from baselines.

Continental Shelf (CS) 

Extend to 350 nautical mile from baselines.



Right on Exploration and Exploitation

Territorial Sea (TS)

Coastal State have rights to exploration and exploitation in TS. Others state have no rights to exploration and exploitation without permission of Coastal State.

Continental Shelf (CS) 

Coastal State have rights to exploration and exploitation in CS. Others state have no rights to exploration and exploitation without permission of Coastal State.

Rights on Surface Water

Territorial Sea (TS)

Coastal State have rights to use living resources in TS.

Continental Shelf (CS) 

Coastal State have no rights to use living resources in extended part of CS . 



Artificial Island, installation and structure, scientific research
 

Territorial Sea (TS)

Coastal State have rights to build artificial Island, installation and structure or scientific research in TS.

Continental Shelf (CS) 

Coastal State have rights to build artificial Island, installation and structure or scientific research in extended part of CS. 

Navigation  and  Overflight

 

Territorial Sea (TS)

All  States,  whether  coastal  or land-locked, enjoy the freedoms  of  navigation  and  overflight in TS.

Continental Shelf (CS) 

All  States  enjoy the freedoms  of  navigation  and  overflight in CS.



Laying of submarine cables and pipelines

Territorial Sea (TS)

All  States,  whether  coastal  or land-locked, enjoy laying of submarine cables and pipelines in TS.


Continental Shelf (CS) 

 All  States  enjoy laying of submarine cables and pipelines in CS.

Innocent Passage

Territorial Sea (TS)

All  States,  whether  coastal  or land-locked, enjoy innocent passage in TS.


Continental Shelf (CS) 

 All  States  enjoy innocent passage in CS.