The legal field governing activities on the world's oceans is called admiralty law (or maritime law). It covers navigation, commerce, marine pollution, fisheries, territorial waters, and jurisdiction over ships. The name comes from the "Admiral," originally an Arabic term (amir al-bahr, "commander of the sea") that entered European languages during the Crusades. In England, admiralty courts operated separately from common law courts until the 19th century.
The legal field governing activities on the world's oceans is called admiralty law (or maritime law). It covers navigation, commerce, marine pollution, fisheries, territorial waters, and jurisdiction over ships. The name comes from the "Admiral," originally an Arabic term (amir al-bahr, "commander of the sea") that entered European languages during the Crusades. In England, admiralty courts operated separately from common law courts until the 19th century.