Admiralty Court Act 1840^[1]

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to improve the Practice and extend the Jurisdiction of the High Court of Admiralty of England.
Citation	3 & 4 Vict. c. 65
Dates
Royal assent	7 August 1840

The Admiralty Court Act 1840 (3 & 4 Vict. c. 65) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It extended the jurisdiction of the High Court of Admiralty of England and Wales.

Content

Consisting of the following;

• Whenever a vessel shall be arrested, etc., court to have jurisdiction over claims of mortgagees
• Court to decide questions of title, etc.
• The court in certain cases may adjudicate, etc.
• Evidence may be taken viva voce in open court
• Evidence may be taken viva voce before a commissioner
• Attendance of witnesses and production of papers may be compelled by subpoena
• Gaolers to receive prisoners committed by the Court of Admiralty or by Admiralty coroners
• Prisoners in contempt may be discharged
• Jurisdiction to try questions concerning booty of war
• Jurisdiction of courts of law and equity not taken away^[2]

The Act was mentioned in articles concerning court proceedings dated 1973.^{[3] [4]} Together with the Admiralty Court Acts 1861, the review of the law was specifically for the reason of a need for an increased number of shipping, salvage, and collision hearings.^[5] The Bill for the Act was supported by the then Judge of the High Court of Admiralty, Stephen Lushington.^[6]

Case summaries

Steamships Trading Company Ltd v Owners of the Ship ‘Samarai’ [1988] PGNC 99; [1988-89] PNGLR 80 (28 February 1989) ^[7]