Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2021

Evidence as to extent of internal waters, territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf

21. (1) United Kingdom Hydrographic Office charts may be used for the purposes of establishing—

(a) the low-water mark,

(b) the existence and position of any low-tide elevation, or

(c) any other feature relevant to the delineation of the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf.

(2) The Government may by order prescribe charts other than United Kingdom Hydrographic Office charts for the purposes referred to in subsection (1) and any chart so prescribed shall be received in evidence as if it were a chart referred to in that subsection.

(3) Any chart purporting to be a copy of a United Kingdom Hydrographic Office chart shall, unless the contrary is proved, be received in evidence as being such a chart without further proof.

(4) In this section “United Kingdom Hydrographic Office” means the hydrographic office that is part of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence and “United Kingdom Hydrographic Office charts” shall be construed accordingly.