The importance of straits, particularly those used in international navigation, has been long recognized in international law. One of the important debates during the Third United Nations Law of the Sea Conference concerned the regime of passage through straits used in international navigation. The result was the creation of a multi-tiered legal framework of passage that included the entirely a new "transit passage" regime. Although over thirty years have passed since the adoption of the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, the vital role played by straits in the global communications network continues to be surrounded by conflicts between the interests of coastal states and shipping. Challenges still exist to achieving the simultaneous global goals of secure passage of vessels and protection of the marine environment. In Navigating Straits: Challenges for International Law, internationally recognized international law scholars provide in-depth analysis of the legal challenges in straits concerning security, piracy, safety and environmental protection. All readers interested in international and law of the sea will find this seminal volume of interest.

PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION BY EDITORS PART I The Straits Regime in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention CHAPTER 1 THE GREAT STRAITS DEBATE: THE CONFLICT, DEBATE, AND COMPROMISE THAT SHAPED THE STRAITS ARTICLES OF THE 1982 UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA. by Dean David D. Caron CHAPTER 2 RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STRAIT STATES by Jon M. Van Dyke PART II SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT CHAPTER 3 MAKING OR BREAKING THE INTERNATIONAL LAW OF TRANSIT PASSAGE? MEETING ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY CHALLENGES IN THE TORRES STRAIT WITH COMPULSORY PILOTAGE by Donald K. Anton CHAPTER 4 CANADA AND THE GOVERNANCE OF THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE: ROUGH WATERS, COOPERATIVE CURRENTS, SEA OF CHALLENGES by David L. VanderZwaag PART III SPECIAL REGIMES CHAPTER 5 THE BALTIC STRAITS by Said Mahmoudi CHAPTER 6 THE STRAIT OF MESSINA AND THE PRESENT REGIME OF INTERNATIONAL STRAITS by Tullio Scovazzi CHAPTER 7 PROTECTION OF THE SEA LANES IN THE JEJU WATERS AND MARITIME COOPERATION IN NORTHEAST ASIA by Boo-Chan Kim and Seokwoo Lee CHAPTER 8 ARTICLE 35(C) STRAITS OF THE UN LAW OF THE SEA CONVENTION by Dolunay OEzbek CHAPTER 9 THE TURKISH STRAITS AND THE THE LEGAL REGIME OF PASSAGE by Yuksel Inan CHAPTER 10 THE SEA OF AZOV AND THE KERCH STRAITS by Alexander Skaridov PART IV SECURITY, PIRACY AND TERRORISM CHAPTER 11 IMO POLICIES AND ACTIONS REGARDING PIRACY by Captain J. Ashley Roach, JAGC, USN (retired) CHAPTER 12 SECURING THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS STRAIT? THE BAB-AL MANDEB AND GULF OF ADEN by Clive Schofield CHAPTER 13 SECURITY, PIRACY AND TERRORISM IN THE STRAITS OF MALACCA AND SINGAPORE by Mary George CHAPTER 14 SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUES IN THE TAIWAN STRAIT - SOME REFLECTIONS Kuen-chen FU CHAPTER 15 COOPERATION IN THE STRAITS OF MALACCA AND SINGAPORE Takashi Ichioka