Home Port Doctrine

Home Port Doctrine in Maritime Law

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

The following is a definition of Home Port Doctrine, produced by Tetley, in the context of admiralty law: A principle of the general maritime law whereby a maritime lien existed for the supply of necessaries (see this maritime law term in this legal dictionary)to a vessel only if the necessaries were supplied away from the vessel’s home port. The home port doctrine is still enshrined in French maritime law in respect of necessaries and master’s disbursements (see this maritime law term in this legal dictionary), but has been repealed by statute in the modern maritime law of most common law jurisdictions. See Tetley, M.L.C., 2 Ed., 1998, 552, 580, 596-597, 607, 608; Tetley, Int’l. M. & A. L., 2003 at p. 494.