Port installations located in international waters that do not belong territorially to any country are extremely rare. International waters or the high seas are not subject to the jurisdiction of any state, according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In practice, harbour installations in international waters are virtually non-existent, as they require infrastructure support, security and legal protection that are difficult to provide without state jurisdiction. However, there are some unique examples of maritime installations that operate outside of traditional state jurisdiction:
List of official harbour installations that exist:
- CAMAR MARINE TERMINA (UN/LOCODE: XZCMT, Java Sea)
- VOLVE (UN/LOCODE: XZVOV, North Sea)
Offshore oil platforms and drilling rigs
Offshore oil platforms are often located in Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), which extend up to 200 nautical miles offshore and are under the jurisdiction of the coastal state. However, some platforms may be located in international waters where their legal status and regulation can be more complex. These installations are mostly operated by large multinational corporations and operate under international agreements.
Shipping transit points and logistics hubs
Some shipping companies may establish floating logistics hubs or bases for ship refuelling and repair, particularly in areas with heavy shipping traffic. These facilities are usually under the jurisdiction of the country whose flag they are registered under.
Seasteading projects
Projects to create floating cities or autonomous marine communities (seasteading) are often discussed as potential independent offshore platforms. However, there are currently no known examples of such projects that are fully realised and operating in international waters outside the jurisdiction of any state.
Floating production and processing platforms
Occasionally, production and processing platforms may be installed in international waters, but they are usually associated with national or international companies and subject to international and maritime laws.
To date, international maritime law and existing management practices make the establishment and operation of fully independent harbour installations in international waters extremely challenging.
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