Vitality in a vessel at sea (9)

I believe the answer is:

aliveness

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'vitality' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both human attributes as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'in a vessel at sea' is the wordplay.
'at sea' indicates an anagram.
'in'+'a'+'vessel'='inavessel'
'inavessel' with letters rearranged gives 'ALIVENESS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for aliveness that I've seen before include "Vigour, vivacity" , "quick?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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