《极地规则》生效后的“西北航道”航行法律制度:变革与问题

Legal changes and issues related to Northwest Passage navigation following the entry into force of the Polar Code

《极地规则》于2017年1月1日生效之后,航行于“西北航道”的船舶需要同时遵守《极地规则》和加拿大国内法规。为保障极地水域的船舶航行安全,防止船舶对极地水域造成的环境污染,《极地规则》规定了相应的强制措施和建议措施,加拿大随之废除旧法制定新法与《极地规则》的规定保持一致,但是新法中存有高于《极地规则》标准的问题。《极地规则》要求在“西北航道”航行的船舶符合技术标准,并不能解决加拿大国内法中要求外国特定船舶的强制报告制度而产生的争端,以及外国船舶进入北极群岛水域的提前申请许可制度,后者涉及《联合国海洋法公约》第234条授权范围的解释争端,以及国际法上“历史性水域”理论与实践中的争议。

Ships navigating in the Northwest Passage should observe Canadian domestic rules and regulations and,since it came force on 1 January 12017,the Polar Code.To ensure the safety of ships navigating in Polar waters and prevent environmental pollution caused by ships,the Polar Code stipulates mandatory measures and additional guidance.Canada has subsequently abolished the old regulation and formulated new regulations in line with the provisions of the Polar Code.At the same time,the new Canadian regulations have some specific standards that are more stringent than those in the Polar Code.The Polar Code requires ships navigating the Northwest Passage to meet technical standards and does not resolve problems associated with the mandatory reporting system for certain foreign ships which was stipulated in Canadian domestic law,as well as the application and permission system for foreign vessels entering the Arctic archipelago waters.These problems involve disputes regarding the interpretation of the scope of the authorization of Article 234 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,and“historical waters”in the theory and practice of international law.