Legal Definitions - admiralty and maritime jurisdiction

Admiralty and maritime jurisdiction refers to the specific legal authority granted to U.S. federal courts to hear and decide cases that arise on or relate to navigable waters. This specialized area of law governs a wide range of issues concerning ships, shipping, navigation, and maritime commerce, as well as incidents and activities that occur at sea or on other waterways used for interstate or international commerce.

Here are some examples illustrating admiralty and maritime jurisdiction:

• Imagine a scenario where a company in Florida contracts with a shipping line to transport a large shipment of oranges to a port in Europe. During the transatlantic voyage, a fire breaks out in the cargo hold, damaging a significant portion of the oranges. The Florida company wishes to sue the shipping line for the financial losses incurred due to the damaged cargo.

  This situation falls under admiralty and maritime jurisdiction because it involves a contract for the carriage of goods by sea and damage occurring on a vessel during an international voyage. Federal courts are equipped to handle such disputes, applying maritime law to determine liability and damages.

• Consider a deckhand working on a commercial ferry operating on the Great Lakes. While performing routine maintenance, the deckhand slips on an oil slick that was improperly cleaned, resulting in a severe back injury. The deckhand seeks compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

  This case involves an injury to a maritime worker occurring on a vessel on navigable waters. Laws specifically designed to protect seamen and other maritime employees, such as the Jones Act, are part of admiralty and maritime law, allowing federal courts to hear claims related to such workplace injuries.

• Suppose two large pleasure yachts collide in a busy channel off the coast of California, causing substantial damage to both vessels and minor injuries to passengers on one of the yachts. The owners of the less damaged yacht want to sue the owners of the other yacht for negligence and property damage.

  A collision between vessels on navigable waters, leading to property damage and personal injury, is a classic maritime incident. Federal courts exercising admiralty and maritime jurisdiction would be the appropriate venue to determine fault, assess damages, and resolve the dispute between the yacht owners.