Convention on the High Seas

Convention on the High Seas

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Signed	29 April 1958
Location	Geneva, Switzerland
Effective	30 September 1962
Parties	63 states (at 2013)
Languages	Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish
Convention on the High Seas at Wikisource

The Convention on the High Seas is an international treaty which codifies the rules of international law relating to the high seas, otherwise known as international waters. The treaty was one of four treaties created at the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS I). The treaty was signed 29 April 1958 and entered into force 30 September 1962. As of 2013, the treaty had been ratified by 63 states.

High seas highlighted in dark blue.

The treaty is divided into 37 articles:

Article 1: Definition of "high seas".

Article 2: Statement of principles

Article 3: Access to the sea for landlocked states

Articles 4–7: the concept of a Flag State

Article 8: Warships

Article 9: Other ships in government service

Articles 10–12: Safety, rescue

Article 13: Outlawing transport of slaves at sea

Articles 14–21: Piracy

Article 22: Boarding of merchant ships by warships

Article 23: Hot pursuit, that is, pursuit of a vessel across borders for the purposes of law enforcement

Articles 24–25: Pollution

Articles 26–29: Submarine cables and pipelines

Articles 30–37: legal framework, ratification, accession