"Sea History for Kids"
Sea History 128
Autumn 2009

Maritime Lawyer
by Blythe Daly

Chances are that your favorite pair of shoes or your treasured MP3 player wasn't made in the United States. It's also likely that the banana in your cereal this morning was grown in another country. The United States imports and exports many goods to and from other countries, and most all of these things are transported by large commercial ships. 

When commercial ships, fishing vessels, sailboats, and other private yachts sail upon the navigable waters of the United States beyond, they are subject to many different laws and rules, depending on where they are, where they came from, where they are going to, and what they are doing at sea.  My job, as a maritime lawyer, is to learn and understand the laws that apply to vessels both in port and underway in inland waters, in foreign countries, and upon the high seas. Many of these laws are very old, as the field of maritime law in the United States dates back to the colonial era.

When I was a kid, I was addicted to the water-from swimming to canoeing to sailing on small boats with my father and at summer camp on the Chesapeake Bay. The water has always been a big part of my life, whether it's a freshwater pond or the big salty ocean. Even a pool will do!

When I went to college, I studied foreign affairs international politics and joined the rowing team. After graduation, I took to the water full time. I got a job as a deckhand on a tall ship and that led to more sailing jobs as a mate and then captain aboard vessels large and small along the East Coast of the United States, in the Caribbean, and in Mexico. After thousands of miles at sea and having learned first hand about ships, ship's work, and the people who crew them, I decided to go to law school to study maritime law. Now I work as a maritime lawyer in New York City. I may spend my days in an office these days, but my sailing experience helps me understand the various problems and cases I confront in the office on a daily basis.

In addition to answering questions about piracy (yes, pirates still exist), I determine what happens when the ship carrying bananas for your breakfast arrives late and the bananas have spoiled before the ship reaches port. Maritime law applies to almost any accident involving a vessel-whether commercial or private-such as when two vessels collide or a single vessel runs aground or into a pier. Sailors are given special protections and benefits under maritime laws that land workers may not have in their land jobs because of the special nature of their work.

Because ships travel to all parts of the world, maritime law is international in nature. Maritime lawyers help draft or design, interpret, and enforce international legislation that governs various aspects of the maritime industry, including safety aboard ships and pollution from vessels.

So, the next time you reach to put on your favorite pair of shoes, you may also want to think about a career in maritime law. It's  a great way to stay connected with ships and the sea while living ashore, and you can feel good knowing you are making a difference in sailors' lives and in helping those whose business is out on the water.