Johnsen Professor Robert Force directs the Center with the aid of an active committee of advisors consisting of distinguished admiralty attorneys and shipping executives. Students must complete and pass Admiralty I and Admiralty II, plus three additional full-semester admiralty courses, for a total of 12 credit hours. All students must take Admiralty I and II unless they have already completed equivalent courses. The law is fascinating, specialized and complex. Tulane is where to learn it.
Maritime law is among the oldest branches of law.
In every country in which maritime law exists, it is treated as a separate and distinct area of the law. In general terms, maritime law concerns events and transactions that occur on navigable waters, whether they be the vast oceans, gulfs, or inland waterways. Although initially concerned with maritime commerce, the body of law has expanded to address contemporary issues such as those involving the environment and the widespread use of recreational vessels. In trade and commerce, maritime law involves contract law. It also involves negotiable instruments, some specifically created to deal with the maritime industry - for example, charter parties.