Disputes at sea follow different rules from those on land. Admiralty law is the body of legal principles that governs maritime commerce, navigation, shipping contracts, marine insurance, salvage, and collisions on navigable waters.

Courts applying admiralty jurisdiction handle cases involving seamen’s injuries, cargo damage, ship mortgages, and pollution from vessels. Many doctrines trace back to medieval sea codes and later English admiralty practice. Modern statutes and international conventions now overlay the older common-law core.

Shipowners, charterers, cargo interests, and insurers rely on admiralty rules to allocate risk when something goes wrong offshore. Practitioners must know both domestic statutes and the treaties that harmonize practice across flags. A single casualty can trigger proceedings in several countries at once.

• Legal system governing maritime commerce and navigation
• Covers contracts, torts, salvage, and collisions at sea
• Blends historic principles with modern statutes and treaties
• Often involves multi-jurisdictional claims