The Principality of Sealand (/ˈsiːˌlænd/) is a micronation on HM Fort Roughs (also known as Roughs Tower),[2] an offshore platform in the North Sea. It is situated on Rough Sands, a sandbar located approximately 11 kilometres (6 nmi) from the coast of Suffolk and 13 kilometres (7 nmi) from the coast of Essex. Roughs Tower is a Maunsell Sea Fort that was built by the British in international waters