Honduras – United Kingdom Maritime Delimitation Treaty
Encyclopedia
The Honduras – United Kingdom Maritime Delimitation Treaty is a 2001 treaty
between Honduras
and the United Kingdom
which delimits
the maritime boundary
between Honduras
and the British territory of the Cayman Islands
.
The treaty was signed in Tegucigalpa
on 4 December 2001. The text of the treaty establishes a boundary
that runs for 220 nautical miles and separates the Cayman Islands from the Honduran Swan Islands
and Cayo Gorda
. From its northernmost point the boundary proceeds southeast until it turns due east when it is almost halfway between the 18th
and 17th parallel north
. Each of the two portions of the boundary consists of a single straight-line maritime
segments. The entire boundary is defined by three individual coordinate points. The far western point of the border is a tripoint
with Haiti
. The most western part of the boundary forms an agreed tripoint
with Cuba
, while the easternmost part forms a not-yet-confirmed tripoint with Jamaica
.
The treaty came into force on 1 March 2002 after it had been ratified
by both states. The full name of the treaty is Treaty between the Government of the Republic of Honduras and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning the delimitation of the maritime areas between the Cayman Islands and the Republic of Honduras. It is the first ever treaty that delimits the boundaries of the Cayman Islands. Negotiations between the United Kingdom and Jamaica and Cuba to further delimit the Cayman Islands boundaries have progressed slowly.
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
between Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
which delimits
Boundary delimitation
Boundary delimitation, or simply delimitation, is the term used to describe the drawing of boundaries, but is most often used to describe the drawing of electoral boundaries, specifically those of precincts, states, counties or other municipalities...
the maritime boundary
Maritime boundary
Maritime boundary is a conceptual means of division of the water surface of the planet into maritime areas that are defined through surrounding physical geography or by human geography. As such it usually includes areas of exclusive national rights over the mineral and biological resources,...
between Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
and the British territory of the Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
.
The treaty was signed in Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
on 4 December 2001. The text of the treaty establishes a boundary
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
that runs for 220 nautical miles and separates the Cayman Islands from the Honduran Swan Islands
Swan Islands, Honduras
The Swan Islands, or Islas Santanilla, are a chain of three islands located in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, approximately ninety miles off the coastline of Honduras, with a land area of .-Detailed location and features:...
and Cayo Gorda
Cayo Gorda
Cayo Gorda is a cay that is 66 nautical miles off the east coast of Honduras in the Caribbean Sea. It has an approximate area of 0.007 square kilometres and in 2005 was inhabited by 11 people....
. From its northernmost point the boundary proceeds southeast until it turns due east when it is almost halfway between the 18th
18th parallel north
The 18th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 18 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Africa, Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, Central America, the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean....
and 17th parallel north
17th parallel north
The 17th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 17 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Africa, Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, Central America, the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean....
. Each of the two portions of the boundary consists of a single straight-line maritime
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
segments. The entire boundary is defined by three individual coordinate points. The far western point of the border is a tripoint
Tripoint
A tripoint, or trijunction , is a geographical point at which the borders of three countries or subnational entities meet....
with Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. The most western part of the boundary forms an agreed tripoint
Tripoint
A tripoint, or trijunction , is a geographical point at which the borders of three countries or subnational entities meet....
with Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, while the easternmost part forms a not-yet-confirmed tripoint with Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
.
The treaty came into force on 1 March 2002 after it had been ratified
Ratification
Ratification is a principal's approval of an act of its agent where the agent lacked authority to legally bind the principal. The term applies to private contract law, international treaties, and constitutionals in federations such as the United States and Canada.- Private law :In contract law, the...
by both states. The full name of the treaty is Treaty between the Government of the Republic of Honduras and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning the delimitation of the maritime areas between the Cayman Islands and the Republic of Honduras. It is the first ever treaty that delimits the boundaries of the Cayman Islands. Negotiations between the United Kingdom and Jamaica and Cuba to further delimit the Cayman Islands boundaries have progressed slowly.