English Law

“English Law” in Maritime Law

Note: There is more information on maritime/admiralty law here.

The following is a definition of “English Law”, produced by Tetley, in the context of admiralty law: (“Law of England”): All law applicable in England. The major sources of English law are: 1) the common law of England; 2) the rules of equity; and 3) statutes and regulations of the United Kingdom applicable to England. Other sources of English law include English admiralty (i.e. maritime) law, the Law Merchant, the ecclesiastical law (of the Church of England) and custom. N.B.: 1) Sometimes, the term “English law” has been used in a more restrictive sense, as referring to English common law, as opposed to the statutory law applicable to England. 2) English common law applies not only in England, but also in Wales and Northern Ireland. 3) The rules of equity, although still distinct from those of English common law, are considered to have been “fused” with the common law and are now administered by the same courts. 4) In Scotland, Scots law (an uncodified civil law) prevails, rather than English common law. Scots law, nevertheless, has been strongly influenced by English common law and by U.K. statutes. (e.g. English and Scottish law of marine pollution are the same, as per Steel, J. in The Sea Empress [2003] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 123 at p. 127.) See also United Kingdom and Law of the United Kingdom, (see this legal term in this law dictionary).

Resources

See Also

English Law in Admiralty Law

For information on english law in this context, see the entry on english law in the maritime law encyclopedia.