Legal Definitions - right of transit passage

The right of transit passage is a term used in international law to refer to the right of a vessel or airplane to navigate freely and without interruption between two parts of the high seas or an exclusive economic zone. This right is granted solely for the purpose of continuous and expeditious transit.

For example, a cargo ship traveling from China to the United States would have the right of transit passage through the high seas or exclusive economic zones of any countries it passes through along the way. This means that the ship can navigate freely through these areas without being subject tointerference or interruption, as long as it is only passing through and not engaging in any other activities.

The right of transit passage is different from innocent passage, which refers to the right of a vessel to navigate through the territorial waters of a coastal state for non-commercial purposes, such as for fishing or recreation.