Book

Description

This comprehensive work provides an in-depth legal, technical, and practical examination of unseaworthiness in vessel utilization contracts, considered within the framework of international maritime conventions and domestic law. Drawing on more than three decades of professional maritime experience, Captain Lenin José García Chacín explores the multiple dimensions of a vessel's fitness for service, from deficiencies affecting hull and propulsion systems to documentary and manning requirements. The book examines the implications of unseaworthiness for maritime insurance and liability, with particular attention to the roles of Hull and Machinery insurers, Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Clubs, marine surveyors, and inspectors, as well as the operation of liability exemptions under instruments such as the Hague-Visby Rules. Bridging legal theory with maritime practice and risk management, the work also examines real-world maritime casualties, including main engine failures and deck cargo collapses. By integrating legal analysis with technical and operational experience, this book provides a multidisciplinary reference for maritime lawyers, marine surveyors, insurers, shipowners, maritime professionals, and academics.