# Law No. 7273 of December 10, 1984

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105650293](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650293)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-7273-of-december-10-1984

## Summary
Law No. 7273 of December 10, 1984, is a Brazilian statute that establishes the legal framework for the search and rescue of human life in danger at sea, in ports, and along inland waterways. Promulgated by President João Figueiredo, the law defines the competencies and legal norms governing maritime safety operations under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Navy.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 7273, de 10 de dezembro de 1984.
- **Date of Enactment:** December 10, 1984.
- **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Primary Function:** Regulates search and rescue (SAR) operations for human life in aquatic environments.
- **Operational Scope:** Applies to the sea, maritime ports, and inland navigable waterways.
- **Promulgating Authority:** President João Figueiredo (Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil).
- **Lead Agency:** Ministry of the Navy of Brazil (Ministério da Marinha).
- **Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law).
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 7273/1984.
- **LexML Identifier:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-12-10;7273.
- **Digital Access:** Available via the official Planalto government portal.
- **Associated Project:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## FAQs
**What is the specific objective of Law No. 7273?**
The law is designed to organize and authorize the search and rescue of human beings who are in peril within Brazilian waters. This mandate extends beyond the open sea to include activities within ports and all navigable interior waterways.

**Which government official and department are responsible for this law?**
Law No. 7273 was approved and promulgated by President João Figueiredo in 1984. The Ministry of the Navy is the primary subject of the law, holding the competency to execute the legal norms and search-and-rescue duties defined therein.

**How is this law classified within the legal system?**
It is classified as a statute, which is a formal written document that serves as a manifestation of statutory law. As a statute, it is considered a subclass of "written work" and "document," functioning as the official record of legal rules enacted by the Brazilian government.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 7273 is a foundational component of Brazil's maritime safety infrastructure. By codifying the "Busca e Salvamento" (Search and Rescue) procedures, it provides the Ministry of the Navy with the clear legal authority and competency required to intervene in life-threatening situations. This is particularly significant given Brazil's extensive coastline and vast network of inland waterways, such as the Amazon River basin. The law ensures that rescue efforts are not merely discretionary but are governed by established legal norms, providing a definitive reference point for maritime authorities and ensuring the protection of human life in all Brazilian jurisdictional waters.

## Notable For
- **Specific Humanitarian Focus:** Explicitly prioritizes the "search and rescue of human life" as its primary legal subject.
- **Comprehensive Geographic Reach:** Covers three distinct aquatic zones: the open sea, organized ports, and inland waterways.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the presidency of João Figueiredo, representing a key piece of maritime legislation from the mid-1980s.
- **Public Domain Status:** As a formal legislative enactment of the Brazilian government, it follows the general principle that official legal documents are public records intended for unrestrained public access.
- **Standardized Identification:** Indexed within the LexML Brazil system, a specialized persistent identifier (URN) used for the unique identification of Brazilian legal acts.

## Body

### Legislative Origin and Authority
Law No. 7273 was promulgated on December 10, 1984, in Brasília, the capital of Brazil. It was signed into effect by João Figueiredo, who served as the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil at the time. The law is categorized as a **statute**, a formal legal instrument that serves as the tangible manifestation of statutory law. In the broader context of legal theory, statutes like Law No. 7273 are created through the process of legislation and are preceded by draft laws. They are distinct from the general concept of "law" as a system, representing instead the specific written document that enacts a rule.

### Scope and Subject Matter
The primary focus of Law No. 7273 is the **Busca e Salvamento** (Search and Rescue) of human life. The law provides a legal mandate for operations in three specific environments:
*   **The Sea:** Covering coastal and territorial waters.
*   **Ports:** Addressing safety within maritime docking and transit facilities.
*   **Inland Waterways:** Including rivers and lakes, which are vital for transportation in regions like the Amazon.

The law identifies the **Ministry of the Navy of Brazil** (Ministério da Marinha) as the central authority regarding these competencies. It establishes the "legal norms" (Normas) and "competency" (Competência) required for the Ministry to perform its duties effectively.

### Legal Classification and Context
As a statute, Law No. 7273 is part of a global class of legal documents equivalent to the `https://schema.org/Legislation` web ontology. Statutes are characterized as subclasses of "written work," "document," and "rule." In many jurisdictions, including the United States and France, such official legislative enactments are considered to be in the **public domain** under the "edict of government doctrine," ensuring that the public has free access to the rules they must follow. In Brazil, this law is maintained in the public record and is accessible through the official portal of the Presidency (Planalto).

### Technical Specifications and Identifiers
To ensure precise referencing within the Brazilian legal system, Law No. 7273 is assigned several unique identifiers:
*   **LexML ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-12-10;7273`
*   **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 7273/1984
*   **Language:** The official text is written in Brazilian Portuguese.
*   **Publication:** The act was formally published in Brasília and is cataloged under WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

### Relationship to Brazilian Governance
The law operates within the framework of the Federative Republic of Brazil, a country that declared independence in 1822 and currently functions under a presidential system. While the law was enacted in 1984, it remains a part of the statutory body of a nation that manages approximately 47% of South America's land area and possesses one of the world's largest drainage basins (the Amazon). The Ministry of the Navy's role, as defined by this statute, is critical for maintaining safety across these vast and diverse aquatic territories.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-12-10;7273)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=7273&ano=1984&data=10/12/1984&ato=491kXRE1UeBpWT1b7)
3. LexML Brasil