Legal Definitions - hovering act

A Hovering Act is a law that allows a coastal country to have criminal jurisdiction over ships and people on those ships when they are outside the country's territory. This law applies to ships that are hovering or anchored within a certain distance from the shore.

For example, in 1719, Great Britain passed its first anti-smuggling legislation that applied to ships found at anchor or hovering within two leagues from the shore. Later, this limit was extended to three, then four, then eight leagues. In 1805, the British Parliament extended the seizure limit to 100 leagues (300 miles) from the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland in respect of vessels belonging wholly or in part to His Majesty's subjects, or whereof one-half of the persons on board shall be subjects of His Majesty.

These examples illustrate how a Hovering Act allows a coastal country to have jurisdiction over ships and people on those ships even when they are outside the country's territory. This law is used to prevent illegal activities such as smuggling and to protect the country's interests.