Host Molly Taylor interviews Savannah maritime attorneys David Sippel and Colin McCray of Hunter McLean about admiralty/maritime law, explaining that admiralty concerns ships, shipping, and navigable waters, while “maritime” is broader and laws seek international uniformity.

They discuss key doctrines including the Jones Act for injured seamen and the Limitation of Liability Act, plus collision vs. allision and the narrow channel rule. Case stories include the African Neptune allision with Brunswick’s old Sidney Lanier Bridge causing 10 deaths, the Golden Ray ro-ro capsizing near St. Simons with four crew rescued after 36 hours, the Archangel G collision that cut a shrimp boat in half, and the Sun Sapphire allision with an LNG dock.

They describe P&I Clubs, shipboard investigations, Coast Guard inquiries, “magic pipe” pollution cases, stowaways, and the practice’s 24/7 demands and collegial network.

The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.

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A looking inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

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Education and Group Programs

Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Welcome and Guests

01:15 What Is Maritime Law

02:22 Key Maritime Statutes

04:17 Allision vs Collision

04:57 Bridge Disaster Lessons

07:04 How They Got Started

09:52 Admiralty Schools and Training

11:27 African Neptune Case

12:53 P&I Clubs Explained

14:43 Life Aboard Cargo Ships

17:33 Golden Ray Capsize

22:21 Salvage and Environmental Claims

26:28 Advice for New Maritime Lawyers

27:45 Archangel G Collision Story

29:50 Wheel Tied Off Crash

30:50 Lawsuit And Channel Rules

32:18 Danger Signal And Evidence

34:10 Coast Guard Oil Spill Call

36:33 Magic Pipe Pollution Cases

39:32 Bunkering And Big Spills

41:30 NRDA And Wildlife Costs

42:53 Territory And Inland Barges

44:54 LNG Dock Allision

48:22 First Onboard Fire

50:32 Lost At Sea In Brazil

52:08 Shipboard Meals And Culture

54:45 Stowaways And Repatriation

59:49 Maritime Lawyer Network

01:00:47 Museum Support Outro