The question of jurisdiction in the event of a crime or catastrophic incident at sea involving loss of life is one of the more complicated questions in maritime law. Broadly speaking, the enforcement of maritime laws is often left up to the authorities in the location where the incident occurred. However, the flag state of the vessel also has jurisdiction to investigate the incident, and, if the crime involves a U.S. citizen aboard a cruise ship (regardless of the location), the FBI also has jurisdiction.
There is no single governing body that has exclusive jurisdiction over international waters. Many groups have some degree of authority including governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and even pirates!
If you were to suffer an injury on a cruise ship (whether you’re a passenger or a crewmember), it can quickly become confusing as you try to make sense of how to file a claim against the at-fault party.
Fortunately, maritime lawyers (like us) can guide you through the process to help you get the compensation and justice you deserve.
The Convention on The High Seas
The Convention on the High Seas is an international treaty created by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) signed in 1959 and put into effect in 1962. In 1982, this Convention was superseded by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea by UNCLOS III with added concepts including Exclusive Economic Zones and has since been signed by 167 countries and the European Union.
If you’re injured in a situation involving multiple vessels flying under separate state flags, you may need to utilize this convention in order to determine the most effective course of action.
Understand Your Rights After an Accident in International Waters
Accidents and crimes in international waters are an exceptionally complicated area of the law. Fortunately, this is all we do on a daily basis and we have been doing it since 1971. Let us put our experience to work for you to concisely answer all of your admiralty and maritime questions.
Contact us to request your free consultation and to learn more about how we can help you navigate the complicated world of maritime law. Whether your accident took place in the US or international waters your recovery is most important and experienced maritime lawyers are here to fight for you.
