How far out do you have to go in the U.S. to get to International Waters?

Question

This is for a debate, so sources would be appriciated.

Thanks!

Answer 1

The territorial sea stretches for 12 nautical miles from the "baseline," which depending on the various geographic structures on the coast may or may not correlate to the coast itself. For 12 nautical miles beyond the territorial sea, in the so-called contiguous zone, countries can still enforce laws relating to immigration and customs, etc. However, for 200 nautical miles from the baseline the state has sovreign control of all mineral deposits and fish that may be used for economic advantage, and beyond that states have certain rights over the adjacent continental shelf, which can be quite further out than 200 nautical miles. Only once you are beyond that are you completely out of any nation's jurisdiction, of course, other than the one whose ship you are on.

Also, a nautical mile is farther than a standard mile. 12 nautical miles would be 13.8 miles.

A further note: Those are the maximums allowed by the treaty, but several countries claim as little as 3 nautical miles as their territorial waters and countries that have not signed the treaty claim much more, as much as 200 nautical miles. The United States has claimed all of the maximums.

Answer 2

When you leave the US by sea it is 12 miles to international waters.

Answer 3

3 miles for certain things, 200 miles for International Waters for most things.

Answer 4

7 miles

Answer 5

answers.com and wikipedia both state that territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles from land. International waters therefore begin 12 miles from land.

Answer 6

20 miles

Answer 7

12 nautical miles. (About 22 kms)

Answer 8

I think 30 miles out? Not sure, though, so you better go further before lighting up that joint.

Answer 9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_waters
looks like 12 mlles.

Answer 10

3 MILES I THINK