Maritime Law
The Maritime Law Committee was formed in 1999 to encourage, foster and stimulate the exchange and dissemination of knowledge and ideas related to the defense of admiralty and maritime claims, including current developments in case law and legislation in the field of admiralty and maritime law, and to educate the insurance claims industry concerning the specialized nature of admiralty and maritime law, and if the problems unique to admiralty and maritime claims.
South Carolina has one of the largest and busiest seaports on the Atlantic Coast (the Port of Charleston currently ranks as the fourth busiest container port in the United States), with additional active ports in Georgetown and Port Royal. Additionally, South Carolina is among the leading recreational boating states, with numerous rivers and freshwater lakes, in additional to coastal areas. In 1998, for instance nearly 47,000 recreational watercraft were registered in the four counties around lake Murray alone. The continued popularity of personal watercraft, commonly known as jet skis, has resulted in an increase in boat traffic. All of this activities translates into maritime casualties, marine related insurance claims and admiralty litigation.
The newly formed Maritime Law Committee will provide an educational forum for this area of law, providing educational and networking opportunities for defense counsel specializing in this field and the general practitioner seeking to learn more about concepts which are particularly peculiar to admiralty law, such as limitation of liability, salvage, maritime liens, and admiralty jurisdiction. The Committee expects to present substantive law programs on admiralty law topics in conjunction with regular Association meetings. These will be geared to the general defense practitioner, as well as insurance claims personnel.
The Committee presently has approximately 20 members and welcomes participation by any who have an interest in this substantive law area. The Committee is chaired by Gordon D. Schreck, who heads the Admiralty & Maritime Practice Group of Buist, Moore, Smyth & McGee, P.A. in Charleston.
