admiralty

Admiralty is a term with several related meanings in naval and maritime contexts. It commonly denotes the command authority that directs a navy, as well as the body of law governing maritime matters, known as admiralty law.

The word derives from the title amiral, itself ultimately from the Arabic amir al-bahr, meaning commander of the sea. In English usage, admiralty has long referred to the leadership of naval forces and to the institutions and courts associated with naval administration and maritime law.

In the United Kingdom, the Admiralty was the government department responsible for the Royal Navy. For centuries it was administered by a Board of Admiralty and a serving Lord High Admiral. In 1964, the Admiralty was merged into the newly formed Ministry of Defence, bringing naval affairs under a single defence establishment. The term persists in historical references, in place names, and in the continued use of the name for certain offices and titles.

Admiralty law is the body of law that governs maritime questions and offenses. It originated in English medieval courts and common law and has since evolved through statutes and international conventions. Modern admiralty law covers shipping and navigation, marine resources, salvage and collisions, marine insurance, and the rights and duties of seafarers. It operates alongside general international law and is influenced by conventions such as the Law of the Sea, bilateral agreements, and national statutes that implement those rules.

Beyond its legal sense, admiralty can also refer to naval administrations in other states, as well as various institutions or buildings associated with maritime governance.