Maritime Law in Mexico
Introduction
Mexican maritime law is governed by the Law of Navigation and Maritime Commerce (Ley de Navegación y Comercio Marítimos, 2014), which replaced the 1994 Law of Navigation. The law is supplemented by the Ports Law (Ley de Puertos), the Federal Law of the Sea (Ley Federal del Mar), and international conventions ratified by Mexico, including UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea).
Maritime Authority
The Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaría de Marina, SEMAR) serves as the national maritime authority, responsible for enforcing maritime laws, ensuring navigational safety, and coordinating maritime search and rescue. The Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (SCT) oversees port administration and maritime transportation policy. The Mexican Navy exercises sovereign authority over Mexico’s territorial sea (12 nautical miles), contiguous zone (24 nautical miles), and exclusive economic zone (200 nautical miles).
Vessel Registration and Flag
The Law of Navigation and Maritime Commerce requires all vessels operating in Mexican waters or flying the Mexican flag to be registered with the National Maritime Registry. Registration establishes the vessel’s nationality, determines the applicable law, and confirms ownership and mortgage interests. The law distinguishes between national and foreign vessels, imposing cabotage restrictions that reserve domestic maritime transportation for Mexican-flagged vessels.
Ports Regulation
The Ports Law governs the administration, operation, and development of Mexico’s port system. Ports may be administered by the federal government, state governments, or private concessionaires through Port Administration Companies (Administraciones Portuarias Integrales, APIS). The law establishes a concession system for port services and infrastructure, with tariffs regulated by the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation.
Maritime Safety and Environmental Protection
Mexico has implemented international maritime safety conventions, including SOLAS, MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships), and STCW (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping). The law establishes requirements for vessel safety inspections, crew certification, pollution prevention, and maritime security. The National Marine Park system protects sensitive marine ecosystems.
Conclusion
Mexican maritime law provides a comprehensive framework for vessel registration, navigation, port administration, and marine environmental protection. The legal framework is aligned with international conventions and supports Mexico’s role as a major maritime nation with extensive coastline and port infrastructure.