Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2022)

4.   Baseline of territorial sea

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   (1)   Except as otherwise provided in this section, the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured shall be the low-water mark along the coast of Saint Lucia, including the coast of all islands.

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   (2)   In the case of the sea adjacent to a bay, the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured—

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      (a)     where the bay has only one mouth, shall be a straight line joining the low-water marks of the natural entrance points; and

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      (b)     where, because of the presence of islands, the bay has more than one mouth, shall be a series of straight lines across each of the mouths so as to join those low-water marks.

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   (3)   For the purpose of delimiting the territorial sea, the outermost permanent harbour works which form an integral part of any harbour system shall be treated as forming part of the coast, but for that purpose offshore installations and artificial islands shall not be considered as permanent harbour works.

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   (4)   The Minister may, whenever he or she considers it necessary to do so having regard to international law and practice, by order published in the Gazette, direct that, to the extent set out, the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured shall be as prescribed in, or determined by or in accordance with, the order.

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   (5)   In this section, “bay” means an indentation of the coast such that its area is not less than that of the semi-circle whose diameter is a line drawn across the mouth of the indentation.

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   (6)   For the purpose of the definition of “bay” in subsection (5)—

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      (a)     the area of an indentation shall be taken to be the area bounded by the low-water mark around the shore of the indentation and the straight line joining the low-water marks of its natural entrance points;

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      (b)     where, because of the presence of islands, an indentation has more than one mouth, the length of the diameter of the semi-circle referred to shall be the sum of the lengths of the straight lines drawn across each of the mouths; and

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      (c)     in calculating the area of an indentation, the area of any islands lying within it shall be treated as part of the area of the indentation.