550. While a vessel is at sea, the mate on watch discovers a fire in one of the hatches. Fire hoses are used to put the fire out and some of the cargo is damaged by water. In marine insurance terms, this partial loss by water is called __________.

The correct answer is particular average. This represents a partial loss affecting specific cargo owners, not a loss shared by all parties involved in the voyage. Marine insurance distinguishes between general average, which involves shared sacrifice for common safety, and particular average, which is a loss borne by the specific interest affected. This scenario involves water damage to cargo resulting from firefighting efforts, classifying it as a particular average loss.