| For thousands of years human civilization has | | | | Seas Act covers deaths of not only seamen and |
| depended on the oceans and waterways for a | | | | sailors, but also people who die in plane |
| variety of needs such as transportation, | | | | crashes on the open waters.One of the most |
| trade, and recreation. As society improved | | | | controversial aspects of modern maritime law |
| over the course of the centuries, our | | | | deals with the status of oil rig workers. |
| dependence on the waterways has not | | | | These workers are not technically seamen or |
| diminished. Now, in the 21st century, the | | | | sailors in the traditional sense, but |
| United States relies on seaborne trade for | | | | nevertheless spend significant amounts of |
| large and irreplaceable portions of the | | | | time on the water on platforms that are towed |
| modern economy. In order to administer the | | | | onto the open sea but not permanently fixed |
| thousands upon thousands of ships, boats, and | | | | to the ocean floor. Most activities |
| vessels registered in the U.S., the United | | | | associated with offshore oil rigging, |
| States Government set up a number of maritime | | | | including the helicopters that ferry |
| and admiralty laws that help clarify and | | | | personnel to the platform and the service |
| organize the myriad situations that can occur | | | | personnel who supply provisions and provide |
| on the water.Admiralty and maritime laws are | | | | maintenance, are covered under these maritime |
| made up of statutes that cover activities | | | | law statutes.Commercial fisherman have some |
| that take place on any vessel that flies an | | | | of the most dangerous and underappreciated |
| American flag. These rules originally | | | | jobs in modern America. Thousands of |
| covered injuries and accidents that afflicted | | | | fisherman ply the open seas, rivers, and |
| inland water workers, victims of air crashes | | | | lakes every day, and sadly, some of them |
| that occur over the waters, and those who | | | | never make it back to home port. A great |
| support ships while they are loading and | | | | many of these sailors, seamen, mariners, and |
| unloading cargo and operating in port, but in | | | | fisherman are covered under the maritime laws |
| recent years coverage has expanded to a | | | | of the United States, and they or their |
| number of other specialized areas.The three | | | | relatives can sometimes collect compensation |
| main American maritime laws are the Jones | | | | for the accidents that occur throughout the |
| Act, the Death on the High Seas Act, and the | | | | maritime world. The fishing industry is a |
| Longshoreman and Harbor Workers Compensation | | | | vital component of the American economy, and |
| Act. The Jones Act is a set of rules that | | | | it is shameful when these brave workers are |
| establish the qualifications of a sailor or | | | | taken advantage of by callous and indifferent |
| seamen, and the specific conditions that will | | | | employers.To learn more about admiralty law |
| enable them to collect compensation should | | | | or hiring a maritime lawyer, please visit our |
| they suffer an injury while performing their | | | | website at This article may be freely |
| duties. The Longshoreman and Harbor Workers | | | | reprinted as long as this resource box is |
| Compensation Act is similar to the Jones Act, | | | | included and all links stay intact as |
| but covers workers who function as land-based | | | | hyperlinks. |
| support personnel. The Death on the High | | | | |