航次租船合同立法:理论检视与规则完善

Theoretical review and regulation perfection of the legislation of voyage charters in China

航次租船合同的立法处理是《海商法》修改的焦点问题之一,基于合同法原理此类合同的性质应是海上货物运输合同。《海商法》关于航次租船合同的规定与海上货物运输合同的规定构成特别规定与一般规定的关系,且与比较法上对于航次租船合同大多准用关于提单证明的运输合同的规定法律适用效果基本相同。《海商法》对于航次租船合同的修改应当增强规定的可操作性,重点关注出租人对于货物灭失或损坏的赔偿责任、根据航次租船合同签发的运输单证的并入条款效力的一般原则,以及滞期费与速遣费的计算。

The legislation of voyage charters is one of the focal issues in the revision of Chinese Maritime Code.According to the basic theories of contract law,the legal nature of a voyage charter should be a contract of carriage of goods by sea.The provisions on voyage charters are special ones of the provisions on contracts of carriage of goods by sea evidenced by B/L in Chinese Maritime Code,and the legal effect is the same as the approving rules in Germany,Japan and other jurisdictions.The revision of the provisions on voyage charters in Chinese Maritime Code should focus on enhancing the operability of the provisions,the liabilities of the shipowners for the loss or damage of the goods,the general principle of the validity of incorporation clauses and the calculation of demurrage and dispatch.