Freedom of the seas

In his speech to the Congress, the president said: Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas, outside territorial waters, alike in peace and in war, except as the seas may be closed in whole or in part by international action for the enforcement of international covenants.The United States' allies Britain and France were opposed to this point, as the United Kingdom was also a considerable naval power at the time.

Article 87(1) (a) to (f) gives a non-exhaustive list of freedoms including navigation, overflight, the laying of submarine cables, building artificial islands, fishing and scientific research.

[2] The Grotian concept of "freedom of the sea" was only accepted after a century long debate between Grotius' ideas and John Selden's.

Previously, in the 16th century, Spanish theologian Francisco de Vitoria postulated the idea of freedom of the seas in a more rudimentary fashion under the principles of jus gentium.

[4] During World War II, nations started to expand and claim many resources and water territories all over their surrounding coasts.

[9] The owner of the vessel sometimes prefers to pay the lower registration fees by picking countries such as Panama, Bermuda, Italy, Malta and the Netherlands.

From the Vikings to the European, Central Asia, Africa and North and South America, trade has served an important role in history, and has been a key factor of a growing economy.

Many vessels around the globe sail under many different flags, and have different crews from different parts of the world where the pay rate is much lower than the U.S.[citation needed] The Jones Act protects the Americans' jobs and restricts coastwise transportation of passengers.