It is conceptualized as the businessman or merchant in charge of the denial of vessels (Boats) at his own risk and expense. It is also defined as the person who, using vessels, whether in rental or own condition, is engaged in the exploitation of the same. Along with this term we find the word shipowner which designates the person who, being or not the owner, has possession of the ship, these two words are relative but differ since according to the Spanish laws of 1949 the condition of being owner between both defines who is the shipowner and who is the shipowner.
It is of great importance to make these concepts clear: owner, shipowner and shipping company.
The owner: individual legally owner of the vessel, who has possession of a vessel or vessel.
The shipowner: It is the individual in charge of assembling and leaving the ship in suitable conditions for offshore navigation, it is also the intermediary between the owner, the shipowner and the other workers of the ship who must be aware of each step before, during and after leaving.
Shipowner: This may be an owner or not, for the shipowner it is not necessary to be an owner as he is in charge of operating the ship.
González Huebra said ¨Even in relation to the C. of C. of 1829, he wrote that the shipping agent is the person under whose name and responsibility the expedition of the merchant ship turns, that is, the one that ships it armed, rigged and balanced, to the which is also given the name of shipowner ”.
