Article 23 allowed governments to exempt from freedom of navigation waterways or parts of them passing through under-populated or otherwise problematic areas under their control.

Meanwhile, foreign ships with which pirate vessels mingled still had freedom of navigation in the area.

Article 20 allowed governments to grant greater freedom of navigation that provided for in the statute, if they chose to do so.

Foreign nations have the freedom of navigation and overflight, subject to the regulation of the coastal states.