Admiralty law or
maritime law is a distinct body of
law that governs maritime questions and offenses. It is a body of both domestic law governing maritime activities, and
private international law governing the relationships between private entities that operate vessels on the oceans. It deals with matters including marine commerce,
marine navigation,
marine salvaging,
shipping,
sailors, and the transportation of passengers and goods by sea. Admiralty law also covers many commercial activities, although land based or occurring wholly on land, that are maritime in character.