What is the standard limit of a nation's territorial waters?

• A. 24 NM
• B. 12 NM
• C. 6 NM
• D. 200 NM

Answer: (B)

Territorial waters are the coastal belt where a state exercises sovereignty. The distance is measured from the baseline, usually the low-water line along the coast. The standard limit is twelve nautical miles. Within this zone, the state controls laws, security, and access to the seabed and resources, though foreign vessels may pass through with the right of innocent passage under certain conditions.

The other numbers don’t match the current international standard: a 24 nautical mile limit would exceed the territorial sea and isn’t the recognized standard; 6 nautical miles reflects older or regional practices rather than the global norm; and 200 nautical miles defines the exclusive economic zone, not territorial waters, giving the state rights to resources while allowing broader navigation rights for others.