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Stateless Vessels Under International Law

The legal status and treatment of vessels without nationality under international law, including the right to board and inspect, and the conditions under which a vessel can be considered stateless.

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Jan 6, 2026

What legal standards define a stateless vessel and when may any State seize it on the high seas?

International law treats a vessel that lacks a genuine national registration as "without nationality" or stateless, permitting other States a limited right to board and inspect on the high seas; that ...