VPRS 5368 Vice Admiralty Court Minute Book

Admiralty jurisdiction is concerned with shipping disputes. Until 1890 with the passing of the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act (UK) which made all colonial courts of law which had unlimited civil jurisdiction a court of admiralty, the Supreme Court was made a Vice-Admiralty Court of the British one. The 1890 Act is the basis for the admiralty jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.The jurisdiction extends to matters such as certain claims for seamens wages, salvage disputes, bottomry bonds, certain claims for damages done to and by ships, certain disputes relating to the possession or ownership of ships and some cargo claims. There is the power to arrest ships or cargoes, attracting jurisdiction over the defendant owner with the ship or cargo becoming available as security to meet the judgment.This series consists of the Minutes relating to actions in the Vice-Admiralty Court. A considerable number of cases relate to claims for seamens wages, for damage to a ship or to cargo, salvage and towage and claims for money owed. For each case the details of plaintiff and defendants (the name of a vessel) are given then the steps taken in the prosecution of each suit.