Navigational Fault Exception

What is Navigational Fault and Why Is It Important?


Is there a difference between seaworthiness and navigation?

Imagine a vessel leaving
the busy port of Xiamen,
tasked with a routine transit
through a well-charted channel.

Everything seems in order,
yet a crucial element is missing
from the ship’s passage plan—a critical warning about unreliable charted depths outside the designated fairway.

As the ship sails,
it unexpectedly grounds,
halting its journey and triggering a flurry of legal and operational repercussions.

This is a classic case of navigational fault, where planning errors lead to significant mishaps.

Such errors could often
be prevented with thorough
adherence to maritime laws and diligent attention to navigational details.

The Hague Visby Rules
specify that shipowners must
ensure their vessels are seaworthy, mandating accurate and comprehensive passage planning.

The consequences of overlooking this responsibility are stark, as demonstrated in this grounding incident.

Understanding navigational fault is vital for several reasons:


It underscores the importance of meticulous voyage preparation.

It highlights the legal responsibilities of shipowners under maritime law.

It stresses the consequences of navigational complacency on safety and operational efficiency.

This cheat sheet provides in-depth insights into navigational fault:


An analysis of the grounding incident of CMA CGM Libra, illustrating the impact of overlooked navigational warnings.

Summaries of legal obligations under the Hague Visby Rules, focusing on seaworthiness and passage planning.

Practical guidelines for ensuring detailed and compliant voyage plans.

Exploration of the non-delegable duty of shipowners to exercise due diligence.

The sea is unforgiving of mistakes.
Arm yourself with the essential knowledge to navigate safely and legally.