《极地水域船舶作业国际规则》的法律属性析论

ANALYSIS OF LEGAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE INTERNATIONAL CODE FOR SHIPS OPERATING IN POLAR WATERS

《极地水域船舶作业国际规则》(简称《极地规则》)是国际海事组织为极地水域船舶航行安全与防止环境污染制定的技术性国际规则。该规则的体系构成是以MARPOL、SOLAS和STCW三大公约修正案为基础,因此使其对缔约国具有强制约束力,并沿袭了技术性、前瞻性等属性。从普适性角度衡量,该规则因为制定主体、立法结构与实际履约等问题尚不足以构成“一般接受的国际规则和标准”。我国应当吸取其中的先进立法理念,并积极加强国内履约,为即将到来的北极航运高峰做准备。此外,鉴于《极地规则》与《联合国海洋法公约》(简称《公约》)的冰封区域条款之间相对独立,我国在遵守沿海国单边立法的同时应积极倡导在极地地区适用以《极地规则》为核心的统一标准。我国对北极航道的使用呈逐年增加的趋势,这势必要求厘清《极地规则》的法律属性以维护我国的北极航运利益。

The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (referred to as the Polar Code) is a technical international rulebook established by the International Maritime Organization to safeguard shipping in polar waters and prevent environmental pollution.The system of the Polar Code is based on amendments of the MARPOL,SOLAS and STCW conventions and it inherits their technical and forward-looking attributes.However,in terms of universality,the code cannot be regarded as “generally accepted international rules and standards” because of issues concerning the rule maker,legislative structures and actual implementation of the code.China should absorb the advanced legislative concepts and actively strengthen its domestic implementation of the code to meet the requirements of the upcoming peak in Arctic shipping.In addition,given the relative independence between the Polar Code and the “ice-covered areas” clause of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(referred to as the Convention),China should actively advocate application of the Polar Code as the core standard in polar regions,while complying with unilateral legislation of coastal countries.China’s use of the Arctic Passage is increasing annually and therefore the legal attributes of the Polar Code must be clarified to safeguard China’s Arctic shipping interests.