Admiralty and Maritime Practice

Maritime and admiralty law are two closely related bodies of law which encompass navigation on the high seas and inland waters, national and international commerce, ownership and operation of ships and other vessels; the transport of passengers and cargo aboard vessels, and the rights and duties of vessel crews while engaged in maritime transportation and transit.

While most of the law in this area has developed through the courts (common law), in the United States, the law in this area includes an extensive body of statutory law such as The Jones Act, Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, the Harter Act and the Carriage of Goods by Seas Act (COGSA). There is also an extensive body of international law such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Florida also has laws regulating vessels within its borders (as do most other states) which are found in Chapter 327 of the Florida Statues (addressing vessel safety) and Chapter 328 (addressing vessel registration). In addition, Florida has also enacted statutes which regulate ports and harbors, pilots and pilotage and the development of Florida's waterfront property under land use and environmental laws.