Admiralty Laws

Admiralty laws govern nearly all of the activities on the world's oceans, seas, and navigable inland waters. They include both international laws and domestic laws (and sometimes conflicts occur between a country's domestic admiralty laws and those of international bodies). Admiralty law is also known as "maritime law," and the roots of these laws extend back to ancient times, with origins in the Mediterranean region governed by Greek, Phoenician and Roman systems of law.

Admiralty Laws and the U.S. Constitution

In fact, many of the concepts of admiralty law initiated in those early times are still in effect today. Admiralty Law Attorneys The framers of the U.S. Constitution, for example, included aspects of admiralty in this fundamental document. In Article III (regarding the judicial branch of the government), the Constitution decrees that the judicial powers described:

"Shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority; … to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction."

This section of the Constitution gives the federal courts jurisdiction over admiralty laws and disputes. In addition, the U.S. Congress regulates admiralty in part through the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.

The Complexity of Admiralty Laws

Nowadays, admiralty laws are quite complex — even those of the United States alone, which include:

The Jones Act — providing medical care and income benefits for seaman who are injured (and for the dependent of those who are killed) in the course of their work

The Longshoreman and Harbor Workers Compensation Act — providing similar benefits for maritime workers who are not classified as seamen (e.g., stevedores, harbor pilots, non-seaman divers, welders and mechanics)

The Carriage of Goods by Sea Act — governing claims involving damage to cargo that is shipped by sea internationally

Piracy, Contracts, Rights and More

Learn More about Your Rights under Admiralty Law

If you have incurred an injury or loss related to the voyage of a vessel, you have rights. To speak with an experienced admiralty attorney, contact us today.