Unseaworthness

As a shipper of international cargo, it is imperative for your freight to be transported from pickup to the destination without any problems during the sea trip. What if the ocean freight vessel caused a safety-related problem to your shipment when in transit? In the ocean container shipping industry, this would present a huge dilemma. All ocean freight vessel owners have an obligation to ensure the safety of the freight and especially of the crew onboard. The legal term of unseaworthiness is used to describe the shipping vessels and their owners that fail to meet the basic safety requirements for international transportation.

What are some examples of unseaworthiness on an ocean freight ship? There are numerous instances of unseaworthiness. For example, if there are unsafe facilities for the crew and for the freight, then it is unseaworthiness. If the equipment is not safe, can damage the freight, is outdated or unable to operate correctly at any port, that is unseaworthiness. If the vessel has a bad design that endangers the crew on board, that is unseaworthiness.

Members of the shipping crew who receive injuries while working on a vessel that is deemed to be described as unseaworthiness can possibly sue ship owners as a result of the Jones Act. For shippers who are concerned about vessels that might be deemed as unseaworthiness, then you should ship with a trusted freight forwarder. They only work with carriers with safe vessels for all of their global shipments.