unseaworthy

adjective un·sea·wor·thy \ ˌən-ˈsē-ˌwər-t͟hē \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of unseaworthy

: not fit for a sea voyage : not seaworthy

an unseaworthy vessel

Recent Examples of unseaworthy from the Web

Hundreds died at sea due to a combination of lack of supplies, stormy seas and unseaworthy vessels.

— anita rachman, WSJ, "U.N. Warns More Rohingya Boats May Be in Danger at Sea," 6 Apr. 2018
The case comes amid strong reluctance in Italy to take in any more of the migrants who human traffickers launch toward Europe in unseaworthy boats.

— Washington Post, "Spanish aid group fears migrant trafficking charges in Italy," 19 Mar. 2018
Most cross in rickety inflatable boats or other unseaworthy vessels.

— Washington Post, "Greece: 16 migrants die as smuggling boat sinks in Aegean," 17 Mar. 2018
Those who do make it out of the detention centers, and take to the sea on packed, unseaworthy boats, rely on rescues by European vessels for their survival.

— lorenzo d'agostino, CNN, "'They use black men as slaves': Migrants tell of brutality in Libya," 23 Dec. 2017
Smugglers often cram passengers into unseaworthy vessels—without food, fuel, life jackets, or navigational tools.

— laura reston, New Republic, "A record number of refugees are braving the deadly voyage from Libya to Italy.," 1 Aug. 2017
Over the past few years, hundreds of thousands of migrants, fleeing conflict, poverty or persecution, have been rescued at sea from unseaworthy smugglers’ vessels that set off from Libya, and brought to Italian shores.

— Washington Post, "UN agency: survivors says some 126 migrants died in wreck," 19 June 2017
By Frances D’emilio, The Associated Press ROME — Italian rescue ships have plucked some 2,000 migrants from unseaworthy smugglers’ boats off the coast of Libya, with hundreds of them arriving Saturday in southern Italian ports.

— frances d'emilio, The Denver Post, "Italy plucks 2,000 migrants from the Mediterranean Sea," 15 Apr. 2017
Evidence gathered will be referred to prosecutors for potential charges of negligence and operating an unseaworthy vessel, police said.

— anita rachman, WSJ, "Indonesia Ferry Captain Investigated Over Deadly Fire," 3 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unseaworthy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.