Gidel, Gilbert Keywords: Territorial sea | Contiguous zone | Mots clefs: Mer territoriale | Zone contiguë | ABSTRACT Territorial sea and Contiguous area are of different legal nature, explains Gilbert Gidel in the introduction of his course. Legally, territorial sea is characterized by what the Coastal State has there, the complete beam of competences recognized in the Coastal State in its coastal marine waters, while contiguous zone is the space where the Coastal State has certain rigorously specialized competen…