Archipelagic Waters

Archipelagic waters are the waters enclosed by archipelagic baselines drawn by an archipelagic state under UNCLOS Article 47, regardless of their depth or distance from the coast. Article 49 places these waters, their bed and subsoil, and the airspace above under the sovereignty of the archipelagic state, distinct from internal waters and the territorial sea. That sovereignty is qualified: foreign ships enjoy the right of innocent passage throughout archipelagic waters under Article 52, and the non-suspendable right of archipelagic sea lanes passage under Article 53. Existing submarine cables laid by other states must be respected under Article 51.