Maritime Law Overview

Maritime, or admiralty, law refers to the set of laws governing ships and other sea vessels, workers or passengers who occupy these vessels, commerce that occurs on or through these vessels, and accidents and other incidents that occur on the sea. From private yachts to offshore oil rigs, any seafaring vehicle or off-land piece of property is subject to the codes and regulations of maritime law. In general, maritime laws were established to protect the rights of those who might otherwise not have been afforded legal protection when the open seas fell outside the jurisdiction of the federal government.

Jones Act

Perhaps the most well known and important of all maritime laws is the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, better known as the Jones Act. This act extended the right to all United States seamen to seek compensation for injuries that occurred at sea due to the negligent actions of the owner of a vessel, the captain, the crew, or any other party whose behavior contributed to the injuries. These seamen could also seek damages if they were injured due to a boat, ship, or other seafaring vessel being unseaworthy. Prior to 1920, American seamen had no legal recourse to compensation for personal injuries that occurred in international waters.

Cruise Ships

Maritime law also extends the right to file personal injury claims to cruise ship passengers in cases in which the captain, crew, or owners of the cruise line have acted negligently. As with all personal injury claims, those involving maritime law must be filed within a given period of time, known as the statute of limitations. In cases involving cruise ships, passengers generally must file their claims within one year of the date printed on their cruise tickets.

If you have been injured while at sea, whether as an employee or a passenger on a ship, boat, or other seafaring vessel, it would be in your best interests to contact a maritime lawyer as soon as possible to arrange a consultation.