Admiralty Law: These laws apply to people engaged in economic and recreational activities on the high seas, lakes, and rivers.

Cure and Maintenance: This term refers to the care an injured sailor must receive under the Jones Act. The ship owner or employer must provide the seaman with the same accommodations on land that he or she would receive on ship.

The Death on the High Seas Act: This piece of legislation allows families of victims of maritime disasters to collect compensation for damages that stem from economic and emotional loss.

Inland Waters: Lakes, streams, rivers, canals, waterways, inlets, bays or any water system not involving the open ocean.

JackupRig: This special type of rig uses a non-stationary rig that has legs that can be jacked up or down. During operations, the legs rest on the seabed. The rig can jack up its legs and move, but does not have any propulsion machinery of its own.

The Jones Act: This 1920 Law dictates that vessels that fly the American flag must be made in America, have an American crew, and subscribe to American maritime law. The Jones Act also establishes protections for seamen and sailors injured at their professions.

Longshoremen: dock workers employed to work load and unload cargo from ships.

The Longshoreman and Harbor Workers Compensation Act: The LHWCA establishes boundaries and rules for injured land-based maritime workers to collect compensation if they are injured on the job.

Maritime Law: Maritime law is a collection of statutes that cover the various types of problems that can occur on the oceans, rivers, and lakes.

Navigable waters: This term encompasses all waters which can transport people or cargo for interstate or foreign commerce.

Statute of Limitations: These laws restrict the amount of time victims of accidents have to take action against those responsible for their conditions. The time can range from as much as one to three years, depending on the state and any applicable laws.

Seaman Status Test: This set of guidelines lawyers use to determine what maritime laws apply to certain workers.

Seaworthiness: This term refers to the condition of the ship, based on the whether it can maintain sufficient levels of safety while in navigation. Seaworthiness is based on construction, equipment, crew and physical condition of the vessel. Should the vessel fail in any combination of these conditions or because of overloading, untrained officers, or other variable may cause it to become unseaworthy.

Vessel: Any manner of craft that can navigate on the water.