Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Christian Republic of Asteria

[Khemia]

★★★★★

Press Statement

Mora Vidal, Minister of State
Office of the Minister of State
Remuria, Asteria

At the request of Parliament, the international community is duly notified that the Rights of Innocent Passage for Foreign Vessels have been unilaterally amended to ensure the safety of all vessels transiting Asterian waters. The update, requiring all foreign vessels to broadcast their location to the presiding authority, will help to ensure safer and more orderly passage into and out of the Reman Sea, presenting less risks to civilian shipping, facilitating more effective Search and Rescue attempts, and improving the security of the region. These updates pertain to vessels underway within Asterian territorial and internal waters.

Parliamentary Bill 1982 On Innocent Passage in Territorial Waters

Adopted October 10, 1982
Amended June 3, 2020

The Socialist Revolutionary Confederation of Asteria permits all foreign vessels, regardless of flag, to travel without impediment through Asterian territorial waters, defined as extending 12 nautical miles (13.8 miles, 22.22km) from shores and internal waters, provided they are transiting innocently. Passage is innocent so long as it is not prejudicial to peace, good order or security of SRC Asteria. A vessel travelling within Asterian territorial laws maintains full rights to repel any boarding attempts, and will receive the full support of the Asterian Red Guards Coast Guard in punitive actions against small vessels impeding or hindering travel.

Passage of a foreign ship shall be considered to be prejudicial to the peace, good order, or security of SRC Asteria if, within territorial waters, it engages in:
- any threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence of the Confederation.
- any exercise with weapons of any kind.
- any act aimed at collecting information to the prejudice of the defense or security of the Confederation.
- any act of propaganda aimed at affecting the defense or security of the Confederation.
- the launching, landing or taking on board of any aircraft.
- the launching, landing or taking on board of any military device.
- the loading or unloading of any commodity or person contrary to the laws of the Confederation.
- any willful and serious pollution contrary to the laws of the Confederation.
- any unlicensed fishing activities.
- the carrying out of unlicensed research or survey activities.
- any act aimed at interfering with any systems of communication or installations of the Confederation.
- any act of passage performed covertly, such as without the aid of an active automatic identification system transponder, or with the intent to bypass detection.
- any other activity not having a direct bearing on passage.

Punitive measures are authorized to be carried out by the Asterian Red Guards Coast Guard, Red Guards Maritime Forces, or other recognized enforcing authority for violations. Foreign ships operating in international waters are not obligated to adhere to these, though economic activities not related to passage in international waters while within Asteria's Exclusive Economic Zone, measuring 200nmi (370km) from the coastal baseline, are governed by PB 1982 On Regulating Exclusive Economic Zones.