Introduction

5.1 Certain claims falling within the scope of the subject-matter jurisdiction of the Admiralty Court have limitation periods which differ from the ordinary six-year period applicable to claims in contract1 and tort,2 and the three-year period applicable to claims for personal injury3 and death4 as provided by the Limitation Act 1980.5 More importantly, these different limitation periods are shorter than, and override, the periods that would ordinarily be applicable. In this chapter will be considered the particular limitation provisions, in order of their length, the equitable doctrine of laches as it applies in Admiralty proceedings, and the Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984.