实际承运人制度在航次租船合同中的适用

Application of the legal system in respect of the actual carrier

最高人民法院2011年再审的"桐城"轮案的判决引发对《中华人民共和国海商法》下实际承运人责任制度能否适用于航次租船合同的思考,从法律解释学的角度对实际承运人制度应当适用于航次租船合同中的合理性和妥当性进行了分析,并进一步认为实际承运人的责任属法定责任,并不受到合同相对性原则的限制。《中华人民共和国海商法》第四章未做要求但出现在航次租船合同中的对出租人责任的规定不能直接约束实际承运人。实际承运人的适用范围和责任范围应当在修改《中华人民共和国海商法》时加以明确。

Abstract：The final ruling rendered by the Supreme People＇ s Court in ＂Tong Cheng＂ case trigged out the issue whether the legal system under the Maritime Code of the People＇ s Republic of China in respect of the liability of actual carriers shall be applicable to the voyage charter parties. Through analysis, it is concluded in this thesis that from the theory of legal interpre- tation perspective, it is sound and reasonable to apply the legal system of the actual carriers to the voyage charter parties. Fur- thermore ,the liability of an actual carrier is in the nature of statutory liability and its application shall not be restricted due to the privity of contract. The provisions under a voyage charter party shall not be binding upon the actual carrier if no such pro- visions are compulsorily provided for under the Maritime Code of the People＇ s Republic of China. It is suggested that the scope of application and liability of the actual carriers shall be specified when the Maritime Code of the People＇ s Republic of China is amended in the future.