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

Maritime law and federal maritime law are two distinct sets of laws that govern maritime activity. Maritime law is a body of laws dealing with the ownership and use of the world’s seas and other navigable waters for business and recreational purposes. Federal Maritime Law (FML) is a subset of federal statutes that regulates transportation by vessels, such as commercial ships, and the transportation of goods through the navigable waters of the United States. Maritime law regulates the ownership, navigation, and use of vessels on navigable waters, which includes oceans, seas, bays, and certain rivers. Maritime law also governs areas of navigation such as canals, fishing grounds, ports, and lighthouses. Maritime law includes laws related to navigation, maritime contracts, shipping, and maritime torts. Maritime contracts involve the shipment of goods and services and the exchange of money between shipowners, insurers, and other maritime businesses. Maritime torts involve the injury of property or persons in a marine environment. Federal Maritime Law is a set of federal statutes that regulates the transportation of goods and passengers by vessels and other watercraft through the navigable waters of the United States. FML also includes the regulation of vessel safety and pollution. FML covers the construction and operation of vessels, the licensing of vessel personnel, the carriage of passengers and goods, the inspection and regulation of flag vessels, and the investigation of maritime accidents. Additionally, FML covers the enforcement of orders related to maritime matters and the adjudication of disputes that may arise between parties involved in a maritime transaction. The primary difference between maritime law and federal maritime law is that maritime law focuses on activities while federal maritime law focuses on the regulation of such activities. Maritime law is also broader in scope than federal maritime law, which is focused solely on navigable waters in the United States.

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