Maritime Injury Law BlogWhat is Unseaworthiness? Maritime Legal Rights You May Not Know You Have
If you were injured working on a fishing vessel, crab boat, or tug, you’ve probably heard about the Jones Act. But there’s another legal doctrine that maritime workers can use to seek compensation, one that is sometimes overlooked. It’s called the right to a seaworthy vessel, and it’s been protecting maritime workers for over a century.
A vessel is considered unseaworthy if any part of its equipment, crew, or overall condition is not adequately suited for its intended use. This is broader than most people expect.
It doesn’t just mean the boat was sinking. Courts have found vessels unseaworthy because of a wet or icy deck with no non-slip surface, a defective winch or pot hauler, lines or gear that were worn or wrong for the job, inadequate crew for the vessel’s demands, or failure to provide proper safety equipment.