seaworthy
SEE-wur-thee
/ˈsiːˌwɜː.ði/
Fit for a voyage on the open sea; structurally sound and appropriately equipped for harsh water conditions.
In legal and insurance terms, a vessel must meet stringent physical standards to be certified seaworthy.
The story behind the word. A compound of 'sea' and 'worthy' dating from the 14th century, created by English sailors to verify ship safety before voyage departure.
Word relationships
- nautical-ready: Informal description, whereas seaworthy is a strict legal and engineering standard.
- unseaworthy: Unfit for open sea travel due to damage, poor maintenance, or lack of safety equipment.
Commonly confused with
- airworthy: Airworthy applies to aircraft meeting safety standards; seaworthy applies to ocean ships.
Word family
- seaworthiness (noun): The state or condition of being seaworthy.
Collocations
- seaworthy vessel
- render seaworthy
- deemed seaworthy
Example sentences
- "Inspectors refused to grant departure clearance until the vessel hull was repaired and declared seaworthy." Vessel inspection report
Memory hook
WORTHY of facing the rough SEA. Fit and safe for open ocean travel.
When not to use
Do not use for land vehicles, airplanes, or small calm-water ponds.
Fun facts
- Maritime insurance policies are automatically voided if a ship owner knowingly sails an unseaworthy vessel.
Explore more words
airworthiness, durable, voyage, maritime, vessel, Weatherproof
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