保险人订约说明义务对海上保险之适用

Application of insurers' obligation of interpretation of clauses to marine insurance

《中华人民共和国保险法》(简称《保险法》)规定的以一般保险格式条款为规制对象的订约说明义务应当如何合理适用于海上保险在中国现行法律上不明确。以《保险法》上的保险人订约说明义务及其对海上保险适用的一般原则为研究起点,借鉴外国相关立法例,讨论中国法律中"免除保险人责任条款"的含义和明确说明的标准,并对《保险法》规定的订约说明义务严格适用于海上保险的合理性提出质疑。结论是:海上保险中保险人履行订约说明义务应以被保险人要求为限,除非条款的法律效果严重而合理的被保险人又无法理解。

It is unclear under current Chinese law how the insurers＇ obligation of interpretation of clauses should be reasona- bly applied to marine insurance. This paper firstly defines the insurers＇ obligation of interpretation of clauses and the general rule as to its application to marine insurance. Then, in the light of relevant foreign authorities and legislations, the paper discusses the understanding of ＂clauses exempting liability of insurers＂ and the standard of definite interpretation and argues that the rigorous application of the obligation to marine insurance as provided for in the Insurance Law of the People＇ s Republic of China be unjustified. Finally, the paper concludes that the obligation of interpretation imposed upon marine insurers should be performed subject to the requirement of the assureds unless the legal effect of clauses is beyond expectation of reasonable assureds.