Today, there is no difference between maritime law and admiralty law. However, this wasn’t always the case, so it understandably causes some confusion. Historically, admiralty law referred to a judicial court that ruled over contracts of the sea in the early American and English colonies. Maritime law, on the other hand, was established to protect seamen and address the dangerous working conditions often found on offshore vessels.
Now, these two terms are used interchangeably, but refer to the same area of law governing injuries and accidents on navigable waters.