Choice of the Applicable Law in United States Maritime Law and the Venezuelan System

International maritime transport is an important means of transport in international trade. The vessels used in international maritime transport face unique dangers which necessitate maritime law that addresses the perils associated with maritime transport. Maritime law concerns many jurisdictions, which creates a special interest for the study of conflict of laws. There are private international maritime laws in addition to multilateral treaties. This paper analyzes the international approach that the United States takes in maritime conflict of laws, and compares it with the Venezuelan system of private international law. Venezuela is a civil law country with old maritime legislation which is in need of reform, so comparison with the United States’ system of law, which is in constant change and development, may prove useful. This conflict of laws analysis focuses only on the aspect of choice of applicable law