光船租赁合同的保险条款对出租人损害赔偿请求权的影响

The impact of insurance provisions on the owner’s right to damages in demise charter

标准光船租赁格式合同'贝尔康89'第12条要求承租人安排承保其与出租人利益的保险,且保单应以双方共同名义签发。在The Ocean Victory案中,英国最高法院多数意见认为,如承租人指定不安全港口导致船舶损失,出租人无权向承租人请求损害赔偿,只能向保险人请求保险金。保险人赔偿之后,也不能向承租人行使代位求偿权。该观点有悖于合同解释原则。为保护自身利益,出租人应通过明示条款,确保其在共同被保险机制下损害赔偿请求权不受影响。

Clause 12 of the standard demise charter form'Barecon 89'requires the charterer to arrange the insurance that covers the interests of both himself and the owner.The policy should be effected in the joints names of both parties.In the case of The Ocean Victory,the majority of the UK Supreme Court held that,in the event of the charterer’s nomination of unsafe port causing ship’s loss,the owner is not allowed to claim damages against the charterer,but can only resort to the insurance money payable by the insurer.Nor the insurer can exercise subrogation right against the charterer after the payment.The opinion is inconsistent with the contractual interpretation approach.In order to protect their interests,the owners should by express clause confirm the existence of right to claim damages under the co-insureds mechanism.