primary duty doctrineglossary / PRIMARY-DUTY DOCTRINE primary-duty doctrine. Maritime law. The principle that a seaman cannot recover damages if the injury arose from an unseaworthy condition created by the seaman’s breach of duty. 词条贡献者 资深译员Michael,国内知名法学院法律翻译专业,擅长翻译各类与劳动诉讼相关的法律文件。