What is Admiralty Law: Course Duration, Admission 2025, Colleges, Salary & Scope

Admiralty law, also referred to as maritime law, is a specialised legal domain that oversees various aspects of maritime operations, encompassing shipping, navigation, maritime commerce, and marine safety.

In simpler terms, admiralty law is the set of rules that apply to ships, sailors, and the sea. It helps to ensure that maritime activities are conducted safely and fairly, and that the rights of all parties involved are protected.

Admiralty law covers a wide range of cases, some of them are mentioned below:

• Maritime accidents, such as collisions, groundings, and fires
• Cargo damage and loss
• Personal injury and wrongful death on the water
• Maritime liens and mortgages
• Maritime insurance
• Maritime contracts
• Admiralty jurisdiction and procedure

There are no specific degrees in admiralty law in India. However, there are a number of law degrees that can prepare you for a career in admiralty law. These include:

• LLB  (Bachelor of Laws): This is a three-year law degree that is required to practice law in India.
• LLM  (Master of Laws): This is a two-year law degree that can be specialised in a particular area of law, such as admiralty law.
• PhD in Law: This is a three-year research degree that can be specialised in a particular area of law, such as admiralty law.

In addition to a law degree, it is also helpful to have experience in the maritime industry. This experience can be gained through internships, volunteer work, or employment in a maritime-related field.

For Maritime University, Candidates need to complete 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) as mandatory subjects from a recognised board. Plus, they should attain 50% marks in English subject in 10+2. There is a provision for Lateral Entry also, to know more about it you can check the college website.

The UPSC does not have admiralty jurisdiction. Admiralty jurisdiction is the power of a court to hear and decide maritime cases. In India, admiralty jurisdiction is vested in the High Courts of India by the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017.

The UPSC is a central government agency that conducts examinations to recruit civil servants for the Government of India. The UPSC does not have any judicial powers and cannot hear or decide cases.

However, the UPSC may ask questions about admiralty law in its examinations for civil servants who are likely to be involved in the maritime industry, such as the Indian Coast Guard or the Indian Navy.

 Here are some of the top law schools in India that offer LLM programs in maritime law:

• National Law School of India University, Bangalore
• National Academy of Legal Studies and Research, Hyderabad
• Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar
• Symbiosis Law School, Pune
• Indian Maritime University, Chennai

The main players in admiralty law are as follows:

• Ship owners and operators
• Cargo owners and shippers
• Maritime insurers
• Seafarers
• Admiralty lawyers
• Admiralty courts

Each of these participants is crucial to the maritime sector and the administration of admiralty law. Together, they make it possible for products and people to be transported by water in a secure and effective manner.

An admiralty lawyer in India makes an average salary between INR 2 and INR 6 LPA, according to a recent survey. However, admiralty lawyers with years of experience and specific knowledge can make substantially more money. For instance, an admiralty lawyer with over 10 years of experience and knowledge in a certain area of admiralty law, such as maritime accidents or maritime insurance, can earn INR 10 Lacs per annum or more.

Moreover, a distinctive view of average salaries as per the admiralty job profiles is mentioned below:

NOTE: This information is sourced from various external sources and may vary.

It is essentially the same thing to practice maritime law and admiralty law. In the United States, the phrase "admiralty law" is frequently used, but in other nations the phrase "maritime law" is more prevalent.

Both domestic and international law serve as the foundation of admiralty law. Although it is a complex and developing field, it is crucial for the effective and safe operation of the worldwide maritime industry.

In short, there is no genuine difference between maritime law and admiralty law. They simply refer to the same body of law under different names.