Maritime Law Blog
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Maritime Geography Zones
Maritime Geography Zones are made up of three loosely defined elements, the meanings of which have slowly changed throughout history. Their interpretations are important when the Jones Act comes into play. According to the Naval Operations Concept of the US Navy in 2010, “blue water” refers to the open ocean; “green water” refers to coastal […]
Pool Drownings Aboard Cruise Ships Lead To Staff Changes
Historically, cruise ships have had a hands-off policy on the safety of swimmers in their pool and hot tub areas. However, after several drownings or near-drownings in recent years, things are changing. Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas was the first in a series of ships to add lifeguards to their children and family swim […]
The Jones Act and Puerto Rico
Of all of the issues plaguing Puerto Rico, from hurricanes to earthquakes, one of the most insidious has been the Jones Act. The Jones Act is part of the merchant marine act of 1920 and it requires goods shipped between ports in the United States to be done by U.S. owned, flagged, and U.S. built […]
Shipowner in Duck Boat Disaster Cannot Use Maritime Law to Limit Claims
On July 19, 2018, a duck boat accident resulted in the deaths of seventeen people out of 31 people on board including 16 passengers and one crew member. The Branson, Missouri disaster has an interesting twist, however, because a United States District Judge found that Admiralty Jurisdiction does not apply to Table Rock Lake, where […]