美国船员保护司法实践的新发展评述

Comments on the latest judicial development of U. S. seaman protection

近年来,美国最高法院做出的Naquin案、Messier案等判决,极大地动摇了《琼斯法》和《沿岸港口工人赔偿法》对船员和港口工人分别保护的基本制度。一系列的判决体现出如下发展:扩大对"船员"的内涵界定,将部分港口工人纳入"船员"范畴;扩大对"疾病"的范围界定,即使是在航行期间没有明显症状的疾病也被纳入《琼斯法》的保护内。这种新发展,也被概括为从对"蓝水海员"的保护,扩大至对"褐水船员"的保护。该趋势体现出美国司法实践加大对船员的保护力度,以适应船员雇佣方式、工作形式和海上运输业发展的新变化,从而达到促进海上运输业积极发展的目的。

In recent years, the legal system of seaman protection has changed a lot in the United States through the judgments of Naquin Case and Messier Case. Traditionally, the Jones Act is applied to seamen while the Longshore and Harbor Workers＇ Compensation Act is applied to harbor workers. However, the Supreme Court expanded both the special protection under the Jones Act to some typical harbor workers and the diseases that are not manifested during the employment. People summarize such changes as a protection from ＂blue-water＂ seaman to ＂brown-water＂ seaman. The motion behind is that U.S. courts use judicial power to enhance seaman protection in order to meet the needs of new shipping industry.