These powerful rights and remedies make the US federal courts the forum of choice for many maritime claimants around the world. The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act Traditional maritime rights and remedies available in the US can be delayed or effectively denied, however, when their enforcement is sought against a foreign state which enjoys immunity under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. Originally enacted in 1976, the FSIA is a comprehensive federal statute which regulates the jurisdiction of courts to hear and decide cases against foreign states. Foreign government-owned shipping lines are often established as agencies or instrumentalities of a foreign state for FSIA purposes. Jurisdictional immunity The FSIA provides foreign states with general immunity from the jurisdiction of US federal and state courts.
Jurisdictional immunity is also subject to certain codified exceptions.
Exceptions to jurisdictional immunity The FSIA contains a number of exceptions to the general grant of jurisdictional immunity. Commercial activity by the foreign state. There are three variations on the so-called commercial activity exception. Notwithstanding the Supreme Court's consideration of the direct effect requirement, disagreement still exists in the lower courts concerning its application. Agreements to arbitrate.