JIL532:Maritime Law II

“Admiralty” is defined as “The system of jurisprudence that has grown out of the practice of admiralty courts” (Black’s law dictionary, 8th Edition Page 50). Jurisdiction is the authority which a court possesses to decide matters submitted before it for its decision. Courts are generally conferred with jurisdiction either by the constitution of the land or an enabling statute. The jurisdiction of a court may be limited or unlimited. The limitation may be either by the amount or value of the property in litigation or as to the type of subject-matter it can handle. Courts are creatures of statutes, and it is the statute that created a particular court that will clothe with jurisdiction. Admiralty Jurisdiction of a court is therefore the authority which a court has to decide on any admiralty matter submitted before it for adjudication.