自美国《哈特法》开始,“恪尽职责使船舶适航”作为承运人的一项重要责任写进了海事立法并随后广泛地被国际社会引述及发展。因而,船舶适航制度对国际贸易活动的开展意义重大。若要分析该项制度就需要弄清什么是恪尽职责,如何认定恪尽职责,适航义务的期限规定及适航的举证责任等等问题。 Beginning with the U.S. “Hart Law”, “fulfilling its duty to make the ship seaworthy” was an important responsibility of the carrier to be incorporated into maritime legislation and was subsequently widely quoted and developed by the international community. Therefore, the system of maritime airworthiness is of great significance to the development of international trade activities. To analyze this system, we need to find out what is the responsibility, how to identify the due diligence, the time limit of the airworthiness obligation and the airworthiness of the burden of proof and so on.