JURISDICTION OVER NAVIGABLE WATERS

The inland or internal waters and the territorial sea together comprise what is generally known as the territorial waters of a state. Over these waters, a state exercises sovereignty to the same extent as its land territory but foreign vessels have the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.

On the otherhand, the open seas are international waters which means that they are not subject to the sovereignty of any state but every state has equal rights of uses in them.