For thousands of years human civilization has depended on the oceans and waterways for a variety of needs such as transportation, trade, and recreation. As society improved over the course of the centuries, our dependence on the waterways has not diminished. Now, in the 21st century, the United States relies on seaborne trade for large and irreplaceable portions of the modern economy. In order to administer the thousands upon thousands of ships, boats, and vessels registered in the U.S., the United States Government set up a number of maritime and admiralty laws that help clarify and organize the myriad situations that can occur on the water.

Admiralty and maritime laws are made up of statutes that cover activities that take place on any vessel that flies an American flag. These rules originally covered injuries and accidents that afflicted inland water workers, victims of air crashes that occur over the waters, and those who support ships while they are loading and unloading cargo and operating in port, but in recent years coverage has expanded to a number of other specialized areas.

The three main American maritime laws are the Jones Act, the Death on the High Seas Act, and the Longshoreman and Harbor Workers Compensation Act. The Jones Act is a set of rules that establish the qualifications of a sailor or seamen, and the specific conditions that will enable them to collect compensation should they suffer an injury while performing their duties. The Longshoreman and Harbor Workers Compensation Act is similar to the Jones Act, but covers workers who function as land-based support personnel. The Death on the High Seas Act covers deaths of not only seamen and sailors, but also people who die in plane crashes on the open waters.

One of the most controversial aspects of modern maritime law deals with the status of oil rig workers. These workers are not technically seamen or sailors in the traditional sense, but nevertheless spend significant amounts of time on the water on platforms that are towed onto the open sea but not permanently fixed to the ocean floor. Most activities associated with offshore oil rigging, including the helicopters that ferry personnel to the platform and the service personnel who supply provisions and provide maintenance, are covered under these maritime law statutes.

Commercial fisherman have some of the most dangerous and underappreciated jobs in modern America. Thousands of fisherman ply the open seas, rivers, and lakes every day, and sadly, some of them never make it back to home port. A great many of these sailors, seamen, mariners, and fisherman are covered under the maritime laws of the United States, and they or their relatives can sometimes collect compensation for the accidents that occur throughout the maritime world. The fishing industry is a vital component of the American economy, and it is shameful when these brave workers are taken advantage of by callous and indifferent employers.