1 INTRODUCTION

As seen in Chapter 2, the Admiralty jurisdiction is statutory, with specific heads of subject matter. It has been established since 1840 (Admiralty Court Act (ACA) 1840, s 35) that the jurisdiction of the Admiralty Court could be exercised either in rem or in personam. The in rem claim (the action in rem) has a long history. The conflict between the Common Law Courts and the Admiralty Court (Chapter 1 para 1) was settled by permitting the Lord Admiral to determine disputes in matters that concerned exclusively what happened at sea, such as collisions and salvage, as well as matters that involved mortgages on ships, and questions of possession of or title in a ship.