Legal Definitions - AEA

AEA

The AEA stands for Admiralty Extension Act. It is a law passed in 1948 that extends the jurisdiction of admiralty-tort to include all cases where a vessel causes damage or injury on navigable water, regardless of where the injury or damage occurred. This law specifically covers damages and injuries caused by a vessel on land, such as to bridges, piers, or people on them.

For example, if a ship crashes into a pier and damages it, the AEA would allow the pier owner to sue the ship owner for damages. Similarly, if a person is injured while on a bridge due to a ship passing underneath, the AEA would allow the injured person to sue the ship owner for compensation.

These examples illustrate how the AEA extends the jurisdiction of admiralty-tort to cover damages and injuries caused by a vessel on land, which was not previously covered by the law.