The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016

• The Bill confers admiralty jurisdiction on High Courts located in coastal states of India and this jurisdiction extends up to territorial waters.
• The jurisdiction is extendable, by a Central Government notification, up to exclusive economic zone or any other maritime zone of India or islands constituting part of the territory of India.
• The jurisdiction is for adjudicating on a set of maritime claims listed in the Bill.
• In order to ensure security against a maritime claim a vessel can be arrested in certain circumstances.
• The liability in respect of selected maritime claims on a vessel passes on to its new owners by way of maritime liens subject to a stipulated time limit.