What are the differences between maritime law and federal maritime law?

Maritime law and federal maritime law are two different types of laws that are related but have major differences. Maritime law is the body of laws that pertain to sea navigation, marine commerce, and the rights and duties of ships and passengers with respect to each other. Federal maritime law, also known as admiralty law, is the body of laws enforced by the federal government and the U.S. courts regarding maritime commerce and navigation. The main difference between maritime law and federal maritime law is that the latter is enforced by the federal government rather than state governments. This means that national laws must be obeyed while state laws can vary depending on the state. Another difference between maritime law and federal maritime law is that the former generally applies to vessels registered in one country and their crews, whereas the latter applies to maritime commerce that involves two or more countries. Consequently, the laws enforced by federal maritime law are typically more complex and comprehensive than those applied in maritime law. Maritime law and federal maritime law also differ when it comes to the types of cases they handle. Maritime law is focused on maritime contract disputes, collisions between ships, and other matters related to maritime navigation. Federal maritime law, on the other hand, covers more serious matters such as cases involving personal injury or death occurring on sea vessels, environmental pollution cases, and oil or gas spills.

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