British possessions

Overview

In common statutory usage the British possessions include British Overseas Territories, and the Commonwealth realms but not protectorates. British admiralty law has a less expansive meaning under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, where a "relevant British possession" includes the Crown Dependencies (the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands) and "any colony" (the self-governing British Overseas Territories). It may also be used more expansively, to refer to member states of the Commonwealth of Nations which have a continuing tradition of British law even after they have become republics, and even if those countries no longer recognize themselves as British possessions.