This article deals with the British navy. For the international law of the sea, see Admiralty law.
The Admiralty (officially the Admiralty Board) is a division of the United KingdomMinistry of Defence overseeing the affairs of the Royal Navy. The Admiralty Board replaced the Board of Admiralty (officially the Lords Commissioners for Exercising the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, etc.) when the functions of that office were incorporated into the Ministry of Defence in 1964.
In 1628, Charles I put the office of Lord High Admiral into commission and control of the Royal Navy passed to a committee in the form of the Board of the Admiralty. Control of the Navy was passed to and from the board and the Lord High Admiral a number of times until 1709 when the powers of the Lord High Admiral were finally vested in the Board of Admiralty.
The Board of Admiralty consisted of admirals (known as Sea Lords) and civilian lords, normally politicians. The professional head of the Royal Navy was (and still is) known as the First Sea Lord. The civilian minister and president of the Board was known as the First Lord of the Admiralty.
In 1831 the Navy Board was abolished as a separate entity and its duties and responsibilities were given over to the Board of Admiralty.
In 1964 the Admiralty was subsumed into the Ministry of Defence along with the War Office and the Air Ministry. Within the expanded Ministry of Defence are a new Admiralty Board, Army Board and Air Force Board, each headed by the Secretary of State for Defence. (The new Admiralty Board was to have been called the Navy Board but for an amendment in the House of Lords).
The title of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom is now vested in the Sovereign. However, there continues to be appointed a Vice-Admiral and a Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom.
Resources for Maritime And Admiralty Law Providing general information concerning maritime law, and links to related websites. http://home.earthlink.net/~shiplaw/
United Nations Oceans and Law of the Sea The United Nations website for the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs. http://www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm
About Admiralty Law An overview of admiralty law with links to key primary and secondary sources. (Cornell University.) http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/admiralty.html
UCT Marine & Shipping Law The Marine & Shipping Law site of the Faculty of Law of the University of Cape Town. http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/shiplaw/porthole.htm
The Maritime Law and Admiralty Law Page Information, summaries of recent court decisions, and links related to shipping, maritime law and marine insurance. From the law firm of Giaschi and Margolis. http://www.admiraltylaw.com/welcome.htm
Admiralty and Maritime Law 2000 Covering daily issues in the practice of admiralty and maritime tort liability, including those relating to the uniformity of admiralty law, marine insurance and environmental issues. http://www.abanet.org/tips/maritime/home.html
International Maritime Organization Public documents, circulars, and information from the United States Coast Guard. http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/imo/
Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee of the American Bar Association, Section of International Law, focusing on American participation in international maritime conventions and treaties. http://www.abanet.org/intlaw/divisions/business/admin_maritime_law.html
Cruise Passenger's Rights & Remedies Overview of the legal rights of cruise ship passengers, who are injured or become ill during their travels. http://courts.state.ny.us/tandv/cruiserights.html
Admiralty and Maritime Law Guide A guide to web sites and internet resources for admiralty attorneys and maritime professionals. http://www.admiraltylawguide.com/
Tetley's Maritime and Other Law A primer and source of maritime law, with an emphasis on Canadian and international law. http://tetley.law.mcgill.ca/
Marine Insurance Resources Decisions, bulletins and opinions on recent decisions relating to shipping, marine insurance, carriage of goods and international trade. http://www.waltonsandmorse.com/resources/
Admiralty & Maritime Law Certification Pamphlet Information on selecting a lawyer specializing in admiralty and maritime law, from the State Bar of Florida. http://www.flabar.org/tfbtemplates.nsf/newwebsite?openframeset&frame=content&src=/Membership.nsf/69b0f57669e2557d85256ab9005d3934/9df1b5ccaebfd9be85256ab9005ce393?OpenDocument
Admiralty Solicitors Group Access to standard documention, contact details, links and news. http://www.admiraltysolicitorsgroup.com
Lexpert - Shipping & Maritime Law Practice area definition, recent case law of importance, and a law firm directory. http://www.lexpert.ca/directory/pa.php?area=S1
Shepstone & Wylie Guide to maritime law in South Africa. http://www.wylie.co.za/Site/Transport-Guide.asp
Maritime and Oceanic Law Centre Specializing in the field of research into coastal and marine environments. Associated with the Law Faculty of Nantes. http://www.droit.univ-nantes.fr/labos/cdmo/lang/english.htm
Marine and Coastal Treaties Text of a variety of twentieth century treaties, sorted by date, from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. http://fletcher.tufts.edu/multi/marine.html
Maritime Law Resources Legal resources and primary materials from the Georgetown University Law Library. http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/topics/maritime.cfm
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