Legal Definitions - levandae navis causa

levandae navis causa

Levandae navis causa is a legal term used in maritime law. It means throwing goods overboard to lighten the ship and avoid total loss. This action entitles the owner to compensation from other participants in the maritime venture. It is also known as jettison or general average under average.

Imagine a ship is in danger of sinking due to a storm. The captain decides to throw some of the cargo overboard to lighten the ship and keep it afloat. This action is called levandae navis causa. The owner of the goods that were thrown overboard can claim compensation from the other participants in the maritime venture.

Another example is when a ship is stuck on a sandbar and needs to be lightened to float again. The captain may decide to throw some of the cargo overboard to reduce the weight of the ship. This action is also considered levandae navis causa.

These examples illustrate how levandae navis causa is used in maritime law to protect the interests of all participants in a maritime venture. It allows the ship to avoid total loss and the owner of the goods that were thrown overboard to receive compensation for their loss.