Seaworthiness

Seaworthiness is the carrier’s duty, under Article III Rule 1 of the Hague-Visby Rules, to exercise due diligence before and at the beginning of the voyage to make the ship seaworthy, properly man, equip, and supply her, and make the holds fit for the cargo. It is a duty of due diligence, not an absolute warranty as at common law, but it is overriding: the carrier loses its Article IV exceptions for any loss caused by an unseaworthiness it failed to use due diligence to prevent. In marine insurance the implied warranty differs by policy type.