Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2021
|
PART 2 Baseline, Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone, etc. | ||
|
Baseline | ||
|
6. (1) Each of the following is the baseline for the purposes of this Act: | ||
(a) the low-water mark on the coast of the mainland or of an island; | ||
(b) the low-water mark on any low-tide elevation situated wholly or partly at a distance not exceeding 12 nautical miles from the mainland or an island; | ||
(c) the straight line across the mouth of a river between the most seaward point at the low-water mark on each bank of the river, where that river flows directly into the sea. | ||
(2) (a) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Government may by order prescribe a straight baseline in relation to any part of the State in accordance with article 7 of the Convention. | ||
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Government may by order prescribe the closing line of the mouth of any bay in accordance with article 10 of the Convention. | ||
(3) The Maritime Jurisdiction (Straight Baselines) Order 2016 ( S.I. No. 22 of 2016 ) and the Maritime Jurisdiction (Bay Closing Lines) Order 2019 ( S.I. No. 155 of 2019 ) shall continue in operation and have effect on and after the commencement of paragraph (b) of section 4 as if made under this section, and may be amended or revoked accordingly. | ||
(4) In this section— | ||
“bay” means a well-marked indentation on the coast the area of which is as large as, or larger than, that of the semi-circle whose diameter is a line drawn across the mouth of that indentation; | ||
“island” means a naturally formed area of land surrounded by water which is above water at high water. |