How is maritime jurisdiction determined under Admiralty Law?

Maritime jurisdiction, in the context of Admiralty Law, is determined by the location of a vessel in territorial waters, and is subject to the governing law of the country in whose waters the vessel is located. Maritime jurisdiction typically begins with the baseline drawn at three nautical miles offshore, though this can vary depending on whether a country has declared an extended range of territorial waters. As the waters beyond three nautical miles are considered international waters, Admiralty Law does not apply here. In Massachusetts, the federal government of the United States has jurisdiction over maritime law, which is governed under Title 46 of the US Code. This means that maritime disputes in Massachusetts will be governed by an admiralty court. The ruling of the court is applicable regardless of the vessel’s flag of registration or the nationality of those involved. In cases where the dispute does not involve a violation of a federal statute or maritime law, the dispute may be handled by a state court. In such cases, state laws may be applied to determine the outcome. In all cases involving Admiralty Law, the legal conflict must arise out of a maritime contract, tort, or a violation of a maritime statute in order to be handled under the jurisdiction of an admiralty court. Ultimately, the determination of whether a matter should be settled in an admiralty court or a state court lies in the hands of the judge and is based on the particular facts of the case.

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How is maritime jurisdiction determined under Admiralty Law?

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