China has developed a modern body of maritime law, expanded a dedicated maritime-court infrastructure and encouraged a specialist bar of maritime lawyers.
The Constitution gives federal courts jurisdiction over maritime law, he notes, which explains why the Supreme Court takes a maritime case in just about every session.
The only thing more impressive than Exxon's profits may be its lawyers: In its argument, the oil giant points to an 1818 maritime decision by the Supreme Court which says a company isn't liable for punitive damages based on the "wanton acts" of a ship's captain.
The court had earlier heard that North Eastern Maritime Offshore Cluster Ltd (NEMOC) had sub-contracted the dismantling work at the shipyard to Turnbull.
They launched the court action in Washington DC to prevent the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) from allowing the first two ships to leave their shores.
Italy argues that because the case is now the subject of international maritime law, it had been decided that the pair will not return to India once the Supreme Court deadline has expired.