Southampton Shipping Corporation (SSC), a shipping company dealing with carriage of good based in Southampton, United Kingdom, had employed a firm of reputable and reliable repairers to repair their ship, The Pigeon, before sailing. Nevertheless, they were negligent in rendering their service and caused water to enter into their ship's hold damaging the goods belonging to Fresh Meat Co. (FMC). The cargo owner brought a legal action against SSC. SSC however, denied their liability and argued that they had discharged their burden when they delegated the responsibility of making the ship seaworthy to a form of reputable and reliable repairers. In another second transaction, another ship belonging to SSC, The Eagle, was on fire after loading completed but before the beginning of the voyage. The fire had caused the cargo owned by Comfy Footwear Co. (CFC) that was on board totally destroyed. SSC again rejected the claim of the cargo owner arguing that the duty to ensure seaworthiness was limited only to the period of the commencement of the loading and not after loading had been completed.

With reference to applicable laws and relevant cases, advise the parties.