Law of the Sea

The Law of the Sea is the part of international law that deals with maritime issues. The Law of the Sea defines states' territorial waters, the rights of states to fish the oceans and mine the ocean floor, and the rights of states to control navigation. The Law of the Sea also governs ships and shipping, commercial transactions at sea, fishing rights, and the rights and duties of ship owners, officers and maritime workers.

If you have a legal issue that deals with the Law of the Sea, contact a maritime law attorney who understands the complexities the Law of the Sea and admiralty law. Parker Waichman Alonso LLP has been successfully handling maritime-related cases for more than two decades. Please fill out our online form or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) for help with your case. We handle maritime law claims from port cities along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard, including New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington DE, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville FL, Fort Lauderdale FL and Miami.

The Law of the Sea recognizes that nations are granted exclusive rights to the fish and marine life within 200 nautical miles of their shores. Nations are also granted exclusive rights to the deposits of oil, gas, and other resources on the continental shelf up to 200 miles from shore. These boundaries define exclusive economic zones for states and nations.

For centuries, the concept of freedom of the seas governed the area beyond states’ territorial waters. But in recent decades, as concerns have grown about pollution and the collapse of fish stocks, the United Nations has worked to formalize a treaty setting forth guidelines for how nations use the ocean and its resources.  The treaty is called the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. More than 150 nations have ratified the treaty so far. The United States is the only major industrialized nation that has yet to ratify the 27-year-old treaty.

The Law of the Sea is a body of procedural laws and regulations in international law that have developed over many centuries. The Law of the Sea sometimes overlaps with federal maritime and admiralty laws and state laws, depending on where an accident occurs and the ownership of the vessel. It takes a lawyer seasoned in maritime law to navigate this complex legal area where different international, federal maritime and state laws converge.

If you or a loved one has suffered a work-related injury, you may be entitled to file a claim under general maritime law or admiralty law. The attorneys at Parker Waichman Alonso LLP can protect  your important legal rights as a seaman, and we’re here to advocate aggressively on your behalf.  We have successfully helped maritime injury victims for more than 20 years. Our goal is to help you obtain the financial security that you need to recover from a serious accident. Please fill out our online form or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) for help with your case.