Maritime

Maritime in the United States

Maritime Definition

Pertaining to the sea. Ordinarily, the term is synonjmious with “marine.”

Ships and Boats Legal Materials

KnowX has a Watercraft Ownership database that covers vessels that are (a) over 37 feet long and owned by U.S. citizens or U.S. corporations or (b) involved in “coastwise or fishing trades” (and hence registered with the Coast Guard).

Lexis has a database (P-PROP;BOATS) of all ships and boats registered with the Coast Guard and/or over 30 states. Lexis says, “Most documents contain the following: owner’s name and mailing address, registration number, date, and county, title number, decal number, hull identification number, vessel make, model, year, and length, vessel propulsion and fuel type, vessel use information.”

The N.A.D.A. publishes several Guides for figuring the value of ships, boats and other watercraft. The N.A.D.A. Web site lists the full line of N.A.D.A Guides and also lets you look up values for most ships, boats, etc. sold since 1984.

Accidents: The Coast Guard Maritime Information eXchange includes a database of Incident Investigation Reports including all “reportable marine casualties investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard from November 2002 to present.”

Stolen Boats: Generally boat buyers have to call the police if they want to know if the hull number, registration number or other number on a boat or boat part has been reported as stolen. However, Florida has posted an online search so boat buyers can check Florida State Police records quickly and easily on their own.

Foreign Vessels: Lloyd’s Register of Ships, published annually, lists registered vessels from all countries. So do the Fairplay Maritime Directory Annuals.

Maritime in Foreign Legal Encyclopedias

For starting research in the law of a foreign country:

Link Description
Maritime Maritime in the World Legal Encyclopedia.
Maritime Maritime in the European Legal Encyclopedia.
Maritime Maritime in the Asian Legal Encyclopedia.
Maritime Maritime in the UK Legal Encyclopedia.
Maritime Maritime in the Australian Legal Encyclopedia.

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Main Elements

Maritime Defined

Maritime law, also referred to as admiralty law, consists of the statutes and case precedents that govern legal disputes originating on navigable waters. Navigable waters include all bodies of water that are capable of being used for interstate or foreign commerce.

Compensation for Injured Passengers and Seamen

Personal injury cases governed by maritime law raise unique issues requiring an attorney who specializes in such matters. For example, the legal rights of passengers hurt by the negligence of a cruise line will be curtailed by the terms of their ticket.


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