Treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the use and management of the territorial sea between 3 and 12 nautical miles from the coast.

The Treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, outlines governance of their territorial sea up to 12 nautical miles from the coast, particularly in the Ems Estuary. Its primary objectives include the establishment of a joint shipping traffic management system, the regulation of pilotage, and the management of emergencies affecting shipping traffic. Key legal principles include the applicability of domestic laws concerning maritime activities, the definition of shipping traffic emergencies, and the responsibilities of the Western Ems Commission in overseeing these matters. Significant measures outlined in the treaty include the annual evaluation of the joint traffic management system and the establishment of protocols for responding to emergencies based on the nationality of affected vessels. The treaty specifies that pilotage will be managed by Germany for German vessels and by the Netherlands for Dutch vessels, with licensed pilots from either country facilitating traffic between German and Dutch ports. The Commission is tasked with developing traffic rules, evaluating the performance of the traffic control center, and coordinating improvements and maintenance of the channel.