Boundary Delimitation

Maritime boundary delimitation fixes the line dividing overlapping zones between states with adjacent or opposite coasts. For the territorial sea UNCLOS Article 15 sets equidistance unless historic title or special circumstances require otherwise; for the EEZ and continental shelf Articles 74 and 83 require an equitable solution. International courts apply a three-stage method: provisionally draw an equidistance line, adjust it for relevant circumstances such as coastal concavity or disparity, then check the result against a proportionality test of coastal lengths.