Maritime Law English — B2 (IMLI Malta Focus)

masterThe master has command of the ship and responsibility for its safe navigation.
cargoCargo is the collective term for goods carried by a ship or other transport.
shipownerThe shipowner is the person or company with legal ownership of the vessel.
bill of ladingThis document acknowledges receipt of goods and normally evidences the carriage contract.
crewCrew is the collective noun for people employed to work on board.
chartererA charterer hires a vessel or its carrying capacity under a charterparty.
port authorityThe port authority manages or regulates activities within a port.
vesselVessel is a common formal and legal maritime term for a ship or watercraft.

flag StateThe flag State administers ships entitled to fly its flag and has primary responsibility for their standards.
port StateA port State may inspect foreign ships visiting its national ports under applicable rules.
coastal StateA coastal State has rights and duties in maritime zones adjacent to its coast.
territorial seaUnder UNCLOS, its breadth may extend up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline.
exclusive economic zone / EEZThe EEZ may extend up to 200 nautical miles, with specified coastal-State rights and jurisdiction.
internal watersThese are generally waters on the landward side of the territorial-sea baseline.
innocent passageThis is passage through the territorial sea that is not prejudicial to the coastal State’s peace, good order or security.
high seasThe term identifies ocean areas outside the maritime zones placed under national sovereignty or jurisdiction.

ratifyRatification is a formal international act by which a State consents to be bound, following the required process.
enter into forceA treaty enters into force when it becomes legally operative under its own conditions.
implementImplementation gives practical or domestic legal effect to international requirements.
comply withThis fixed collocation means to act in accordance with a rule or standard.
enforceEnforcement involves measures that ensure applicable law is obeyed.
obligationAn obligation is a binding duty to act or refrain from acting.
provisionA provision is an individual rule or requirement in a legal instrument.
amendmentAn amendment officially changes or adds to an existing legal text.

is entitled toConfers or recognises a right held by the seafarer.
mustImposes a direct binding obligation on the shipowner.
mayGrants a discretionary power rather than requiring inspection in every case.
must notCreates a clear prohibition against unauthorised disclosure.
is required toA formal passive expression stating that a rule obliges the applicant.
shallUsed here in the traditional formula stating when legislation takes effect.
shouldExpresses recommended good practice rather than a binding rule.
is permitted toGrants permission to the recognised inspector.

collisionA collision involves contact between two vessels.
groundingA grounding occurs when a ship touches or becomes stuck on the seabed or shore.
salvageSalvage law may reward voluntary and successful assistance to maritime property in danger.
pollutionPollution is contamination that harms or risks the marine environment.
claimantThe claimant is the person or entity bringing a legal claim.
liabilityLiability means legal responsibility for an act, loss, damage or obligation.
compensationCompensation is money paid or awarded for legally recognised loss or damage.
limitationSome regimes allow liability to be capped in defined circumstances, subject to their rules.

was detainedPast simple passive for a completed action taken against the vessel.
may be inspectedModal passive: may + be + past participle.
were damagedPlural past simple passive agrees with “containers”.
is allegedAn impersonal reporting form that avoids presenting an unproved allegation as fact.
has been amendedPresent perfect passive connects the completed amendment with the current regulation.
should be notifiedModal passive foregrounding the authority that should receive notification.
were rescuedPlural past passive describing the completed rescue of the crew members.
may be recoveredModal passive expressing possible legal recovery of reasonable costs.

applies toDefines the persons, vessels or situations within the provision’s scope.
for the purposes ofLimits the following definition to the operation of this Act.
subject toMakes validity conditional on compliance with another rule.
except whereIntroduces an exception to the general prohibition.
competent authorityIdentifies the public body legally authorised to exercise the power.
prescribeIn legislation, to prescribe is to set a requirement formally.
offenceAn offence is conduct made punishable by law.
penaltyA penalty is the punishment or sanction attached to an offence.

B · Port StateThe ship is foreign and is being inspected while in a national port.
C · DetainedDetention temporarily prevents the vessel from proceeding because serious deficiencies were identified.
A · Flag administrationThe flag administration acts for the State whose flag the vessel is entitled to fly.
D · CargoThe containers are goods carried aboard the vessel.
B · Marine pollutionAn oil escape directly engages protection of the marine environment.
C · Not yet determinedThe case provides insufficient grounds for a final conclusion on liability.
A · Evidence suggests… may…This wording accurately hedges the claim while the investigation remains incomplete.
D · Identify rules and verify factsLegal analysis must establish applicable law and reliable facts before reaching a conclusion.

Maritime actors & documents