Maritime Code of the People's Republic of China
中华人民共和国海商法
Category: MARITIME AFFAIRS
Organ of Promulgation: The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Status of Effect : In Force
Date of Promulgation: 1992-11-07 Effective Date: 1993-07-01
(Adopted at the 28th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People's Congress on November 7, 1992, promulgated by Order No. 64 of the President of the People's Republic of China on November 7, 1992, and effective as of July 1, 1993) （一九九二年十一月七日第七届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十八次会议通过）
Contents
??Chapter I?? General Provisions ??Chapter II??Ships
???Section 1? Ownership of Ships ???Section 2? Mortgage of Ships ???Section 3? Maritime Liens ??Chapter III? Crew
???Section 1? Basic Principles ???Section 2? The Master
??Chapter IV??Contract of Carriage of Goods by Sea ???Section 1? Basic Principles
???Section 2? Carrier's Responsibilities ???Section 3? Shipper's Responsibilities ???Section 4? Transport Documents ???Section 5? Delivery of Goods
???Section 6? Cancellation of Contract
???Section 7? Special Provisions Regarding Voyage Charter Party
???Section 8? Special Provisions Regarding Multimodal Transport Contract ??Chapter V?? Contract of Carriage of Passengers by Sea ??Chapter VI??Charter Parties
???Section 1? Basic Principles ???Section 2? Time Charter Party ???Section 3? Bareboat Charter Party ??Chapter VII? Contract of Sea Towage ??Chapter VIII?Collision of Ships ??Chapter IX??Salvage at Sea ??Chapter X?? General Average
??Chapter XI??Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims ??Chapter XII? Contract of Marine Insurance
???Section 1? Basic Principles
???Section 2? Conclusion, Termination and Assignment of Contract ???Section 3? Obligations of the Insured ???Section 4? Liability of the Insurer
???Section 5? Loss of or Damage to the Subject Matter Insured and Abandonment
???Section 6? Payment of Indemnity ??Chapter XIII?Limitation of Time
??Chapter XIV? Application of Law in Relation to Foreignrelated Matters ??Chapter XV??Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I?General Provisions 第一章 总 则
??Article 1?This Code is enacted with a view to regulating the relations arising from maritime transport and those pertaining to ships, to securing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the parties concerned, and to promoting the development of maritime transport, economy and trade.
第一条 为了调整海上运输关系、船舶关系，维护当事人各方的合法权益，促进海上运输和经济贸易的发展，制定本法。
??Article 2?\goods and passengers by sea, including the sea-river and river-sea direct transport. ??The provisions concerning contracts of carriage of goods by sea as contained in Chapter IV of this Code shall not be applicable to the maritime transport of goods between the ports of the People's Republic of China.
第二条 本法所称海上运输，是指海上货物运输和海上旅客运输，包括海江之间、江海之间的直
达运输。
本法第四章海上货物运输合同的规定，不适用于中华人民共和国港口之间的海上货物运输。
??Article 3?\as referred to in this Code means sea-going ships and other mobile units, but does not include ships or craft to be used for military or public service purposes, nor small ships of less than 20 tons gross tonnage.
??The term \apparel.
第三条 本法所称船舶，是指海船和其他海上移动式装置，但是用于军事的、政府公务的船舶和２０总吨以下的小型船艇除外。 前款所称船舶，包括船舶属具。
?Article 4?Maritime transport and towage services between the ports of the People's
Republic of China shall be undertaken by ships flying the national flag of the People's Republic of China, except as otherwise provided for by laws or administrative rules and regulations.
??No foreign ships may engage in the maritime transport or towage services between the ports of the People's Republic of China unless permitted by the competent authorities of transport and communications under the State Council.
第四条 中华人民共和国港口之间的海上运输和拖航，由悬挂中华人民共和国国旗的船舶经营。但是，法律、行政法规另有规定的除外。
非经国务院交通主管部门批准，外国籍船舶不得经营中华人民共和国港口之间的海上运输和拖航。
??Article 5?Ships are allowed to sail under the national flag of the People's Republic of China after being registered, as required by law, and granted the nationality of the People's Republic of China.
??Ships illegally flying the national flag of the People's Republic of China shall be prohibited and fined by the authorities concerned.
第五条 船舶经依法登记取得中华人民共和国国籍，有权悬挂中华人民共和国国旗航行。 船舶非法悬挂中华人民共和国国旗航行的，由有关机关予以制止，处以罚款。
??Article 6?All matters pertaining to maritime transport shall be administered by the competent authorities of transport and communications under the State Council. The specific measures governing such administration shall be worked out by such authorities and implemented after being submitted to and approved by the State Council.
第六条 海上运输由国务院交通主管部门统一管理，具体办法由国务院交通主管部门制定，报国务院批准后施行。
Chapter II?Ships 第二章 船 舶
Section I?Ownership of Ships ? 第一节 船舶所有权
? Article 7?The ownership of a ship means the shipowner's rights to lawfully possess, utilize, profit from and dispose of the ship in his ownership.
第七条 船舶所有权，是指船舶所有人依法对其船舶享有占有、使用、收益和处分的权力。
??Article 8?With respect to a State-owned ship operated by an enterprise owned by the whole people having a legal person status granted by the State, the provisions of this Code regarding the shipowner shall apply to that legal person.
??第八条 国家所有的船舶由国家授予具有法人资格的全民所有制企业经营管理的，本法有关船舶
所有人的规定适用于该法人。
Article 9?The acquisition, transference or extinction of the ownership of a ship
shall be registered at the ship registration authorities; no acquisition, transference or extinction of the ship's ownership shall act against a third party unless registered.
??The transference of the ownership of a ship shall be made by a contract in writing. ??第九条 船舶所有权的取得、转让和消灭，应当向船舶登记机关登记；未经登记的，不得对抗第
三人。
船舶所有权的转让，应当签订书面合同。
Article 10?Where a ship is jointly owned by two or more legal persons or individuals, the joint ownership thereof shall be registered at the ship registration authorities. The joint ownership of the ship shall not act against a third party unless registered.
第十条 船舶由两个以上的法人或者个人共有的，应当向船舶登记机关登记；未经登记的，不得对抗第三人。
??Section 2?Mortgage of Ships
第二节 船舶抵押权
Article 11?The right of mortgage with respect to a ship is the right of preferred
compensation enjoyed by the mortgagee of that ship from the proceeds of the auction sale made in accordance with law where and when the mortgagor fails to pay his debt to the mortgagee secured by the mortgage of that ship.
??第十一条 船舶抵押权，是指抵押人对于抵押权人提供的作为债务担保的船舶，在抵押人不履行
债务时，可以依法拍卖，从卖得的价款中优先受偿的权利。
Article 12?The owner of a ship or those authorized thereby may establish the mortgage of the ship.
??The mortgage of a ship shall be established by a contract in writing.
第十二条 船舶所有人或者船舶所有人授权的人可以设定船舶抵押权。 船舶抵押权的设定，应当签订书面合同。
Article 13?The mortgage of a ship shall be established by registering the mortgage of the ship with the ship registration authorities jointly by the mortgagee and the mortgagor. No mortgage may act against a third party unless registered.? ??The main items for the registration of the mortgage of a ship shall be:?
??(1) Name or designation and address of the mortgagee and the name or designation and address of the mortgagor of the ship;?
??(2) Name and nationality of the mortgaged ship and the authorities that issued the certificate of ownership and the certificate number thereof;?
??(3) Amount of debt secured, the interest rate and the period for the repayment of the debt.???Information about the registration of mortgage of ships shall be accessible to the public for enquiry.
??第十三条 设定船舶抵押权，由抵押权人和抵押人共同向船舶登记机关办理抵押权登记；未经登
记的，不得对抗第三人。
船舶抵押权登记，包括下列主要项目：
（一）船舶抵押权人和抵押人的姓名或者名称、地址；
（二）被抵押船舶的名称、国籍、船舶所有权证书的颁发机关和证书号码； （三）所担保的债权数额、利息率、受偿期限。 船舶抵押权的登记状况，允许公众查询。
Article 14?Mortgage may be established on a ship under construction.
??In registering the mortgage of a ship under construction, the building contract of the ship shall as well be submitted to the ship registration authorities. ??第十四条 建造中的船舶可以设定船舶抵押权。
建造中的船舶办理抵押权登记，还应当向船舶登记机关提交船舶建造合同。
Article 15?The mortgaged ship shall be insured by the mortgagor unless the