I was looking at a friend's magazine called Marine News (Jan/2010). It has
an interesting article about seaworthiness.

I couldn't find it on the website marinelink.com... guess it's too new. But,
if you get the magazine, it might be worth reading if you employ others on
your boat.

Basically, it discusses a vessel owner's responsibilities for
seaworthiness...

Duty of Vessel Owner to Furnish a Seaworthy Vessel
Under the general maritime law, a vessel owner has a duty to furnish a
seaworthy vessel. A seaworthy vessel is one which is reasonably fit to carry
the cargo it has undertaken to transport. While this duty is absolute, 'the
standard is not perfection, but reasonable fitness; not a ship that will
weather every conceivable storm or withstand every imaginable peril of the
sea, but a vessel reasonably suitable for her intended service.'


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Nom=de=Plume