Page 93 - NAVAL SCIENCE 3 TEXTBOOK

98 NAVAL KKOW I.EDGE

The permanent Seabed
Committee of the United
Nations in general session
in New York. The purpose
of this committee is to
work on the peaceful uses
of the seabed and the
ocean floor beyond the
limits of the territorial sea.

exercise of sllch sovereign rights over the continental shelf does not in application nnd cover aU aspects of safe conduct of a vessel at
alter the legal status of the waters abo\'e or that of the airspace over sea, including lights, whistle signals, day shapes, and ship maneu-
the wilter. This right of exploration ilnd exploitation is limited, in \'ers under different circumstances. International rules of the road
that there can be no unjustifiable interference with the freedom of arc now developed by a specialized agency of the United Nations
navigation, fishing, or scientific research. called the International Jvlaritimc Organization (IMO). It com-
Though exploitation of the continental shelf is still in its prises all the major shipping nations of the world.
infancy. technology has now progressed to the point where the The rules of the road are positive international law. They are
deep seabeds and the ocean floor may also become sources of raw specific and have proven to be completely enforceable. The rules
materials. Scientific research has determined that extensive depos- are applicable to all vessels, large and small, warship and merchant.
its of many strategic minerals lie on or d ose to the surface of the In the event of a collision, the case is heard in the admiralty court
sea floor, in addition to inestimable amoullts of oil in the subsoil. of the maritime nation having jurisdiction, and international law
The mining of manganese nodules from the senbeds commenced is uniformly applied to ships of all nationalities.
in the earl)' 1970s. The United States has proposed that the deep The international rules of the road generally ilpply in territo-
seabeds not be subject to any kind of claim b)' al1Y state, but rather rial seilS ilnd national waters, unless special internal rules have been
that all activities in the area be governed by international law in adopted by a nation. In the case of the United States, inland rules,
accordance with United Nations principles. differing somewhat from internationnl rules, pre\'ail in specified
inland waters. Sailors must acquaint themsel\'es with all rules that
apply to nn)' nation they are about to visit.
Rules of the Road

The nautical rules of the road were devised for the purpose of
Conclusion
st.lIldardizing ship movements on the seilS in variolls situntions in
sllch a manner ns to avoid collisions at sea. The fundamental rules The law of the sea is today in a stilte of flux and development. The
of meeting, crossing, and passing have evolved in response to the United States mllst seek to ensure that future legal developments
need for safety of waterborne vessels, their passengers, and cargoes. concerning the lise of the seas do not adversely affect our ability to
\ Vithout such rules, chaos would surel), exist. carry out naval missions. In this effort, the United States must take
The international law currently in effect is called Regulations the lead ill defending existing internationalleg<J1 rights and argue
for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea, cOlllmonly known as the against nny attempts to impose restrictions or bans in the foliow-
illtemntioll(/l rilles of the ro(/rl or also the COLREGS. The Ct1l'- ing areas:
rent law was revised in 1972 and came into effect in 1977. It was
Navig<Jtion through or overflight of an economic zone
only the third revision since 1895, when British and french sniling
Innocent passage of warships through territori<J1 waters, or
rules gained international acceptance. These rules are worldwide
advance notice tor same