This course provides a rigorous and comprehensive introduction to maritime law—a specialized field governing commerce, navigation, marine insurance, seafarer rights, salvage, and liability on navigable waters. Students will explore the unique interplay between domestic admiralty law, international maritime conventions, and private commercial practice.
The course begins with the historical and constitutional foundations of admiralty jurisdiction in the United States and progresses through substantive areas including carriage of goods by sea, marine torts, maritime liens, limitation of liability, ship finance, salvage, general average, and marine pollution. Additionally, it examines contemporary global issues such as piracy, human trafficking at sea, and maritime cyber threats.
Students completing this course will gain the doctrinal foundation and practical understanding necessary to advise shipping companies, marine insurers, cargo owners, and governments in global maritime commerce and litigation.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
-
Understand the scope, sources, and historical development of maritime and admiralty law.
-
Navigate the jurisdictional boundaries between federal admiralty courts, state courts, and international fora.
-
Analyze legal issues arising from the carriage of goods by sea under international conventions and U.S. law.
-
Evaluate liability regimes for marine torts, collisions, salvage, and pollution.
-
Apply key concepts such as maritime liens, general average, and limitation of liability.
-
Assess the impact of international treaties, custom, and conventions on shipping and marine governance.
-
Address practical problems arising in ship finance, arrest, and enforcement.
