A sea trial or trial trip is the testing phase of a watercraft (including boats, ships, and submarines). It is also referred to as a shakedown cruise.Sea trials are an important step within the boat buying process that allows you to take a boat for "test run. Sea trials are a crucial procedure before a vessel leaves the port on its maiden voyage because it determines how safe the crew and passengers onboard are. Sea trials of a newly built ship are important to ensure the overall safety of the ship, the crew and the cargo. A sea trial could last 30 minutes or it could take several hours. The specialist committee is composed of experts in sea trials from different areas of the world. Sea trials are carried out under a variety of circumstances. The document discusses sea trials conducted on new ships to test machinery, equipment, and systems under operating conditions. The tradition is to decide you like the boat, make an offer that is accepted, and schedule the sea trial.