Good ship or vessel. In some charterparties, the opening phrase may read as follows:
“It is this day mutually agreed between . . . Charterers and . . . Owners of the good steamer called . . . classed . . .”
The word “good” relates to the vessel’s seaworthiness. In a charterparty, the vessel’s seaworthiness is one of the implied obligations unless the charterparty contains exceptions to liability in this respect.
For shipments under bills of lading, subject to the U.K. Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1971, the word “good” is superfluous. Under this Act carriers are not bound to give an absolute undertaking to provide a seaworthy ship.
