Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Jurisdiction
Chapter III Maritime Claims Preservation
Section 1 General Principles
Section 2 Arresting or Auction Sale of Ships
Section 3 Arrest and Auction of the Goods on Board
Chapter IV Maritime Injunction
Chapter V Maritime Evidence Preservation
Chapter VI Maritime Guarantee
Chapter VII Service
Chapter VIII Trial Procedures
Section 1 Provisions on Trying Cases Involving Collision of Ships
Section 2 Provisions on Trying Cases Involving General Average
Section 3 Provision on Exercising the Right to Indemnity by Subrogation
by a Maritime Insurer
Section 4 Summary Procedures, Procedures for Hastening Debt Recovery
and Procedures for Publicizing Public Notice for Assertion
of Claims
Chapter IX Procedures for Constituting a Limitation Fund for Maritime Claims Liability
Chapter X Procedures for Registering Creditors' Rights and Repayment of Debt
Chapter XI Procedures for Publicizing Notice for Assertion of Maritime Liens
Chapter XII Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1This Law is formulated for the purposes of maintaining the litigation rights, ensuring the ascertaining of facts by the people's courts, distinguishing right from wrong, applying the law correctly, trying maritime cases promptly.
Article 2Whoever engages in maritime litigation within the territory of the People's Republic of China shall apply the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China and this Law. Where otherwise provided for by this Law, such provisions shall prevail.
Article 3If an international treaty concluded or acceded to by the People's Republic of China contains provisions that differ from provisions of the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China and this Law in respect of foreign-related maritime procedures, the provisions of the international treaty shall apply, except those on which China has made reservations.
Article 4The maritime court shall entertain the lawsuits filed in respect of a maritime tortious dispute, maritime contract dispute and other maritime disputes brought by the parties as provided for by laws.
Article 5In dealing with maritime litigation, the maritime courts, the high people's courts where such courts are located and the Supreme People's Court shall apply the provisions of this Law.
Chapter II Jurisdiction
Article 6Maritime territorial jurisdiction shall be conducted in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China.
The maritime territorial jurisdiction below shall be conducted in accordance with the following provisions:
(1)A lawsuit brought on maritime tortious may be, in addition to the provisions of Articles 19 to 31 of the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China, under jurisdiction of the maritime court of the place of its port of registry;
(2)A lawsuit brought on maritime transportation contract may be, in addition to the provisions of Articles 82 of the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China, under jurisdiction of the maritime court of the place of its port of re-transportation;
(3)A lawsuit brought on maritime charter parties may be under jurisdiction of the maritime court of the place of its port of ship delivery, port of ship return, port of ship registry, port where the defendant has its domicile;
(4)A lawsuit brought on a maritime protection and indemnity contract may be under jurisdiction of the maritime court of the place where the object of the action is located, the place where the accident occurred or the place where the defendant has its domicile;
(5)A lawsuit brought on a maritime contract of employment of crew may be under jurisdiction of the maritime court of the place where the plaintiff has its domicile, the place where the contract is signed, the place of the port where the crew is abroad or the port where the crew leaves the ship or the place where the defendant has its domicile;
(6)A lawsuit brought on a maritime guaranty may be under jurisdiction of the maritime court of the place where the property mortgaged is located or the place where the defendant has its domicile; a lawsuit brought on a ship mortgage may also be under jurisdiction of the maritime court in the place of registry port;
(7)a lawsuit brought on ownership, procession, and use, maritime liens of a ship, may be under jurisdiction of the maritime court of the place where the ship is located, the place of ship registry or the place where the defendant has its domicile.
Article 7The following maritime litigation shall be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the maritime courts specified in this Article:
(1)A lawsuit brought on a dispute over harbour operations shall be under the jurisdiction of the maritime court of the place where the harbour is located;
(2)A lawsuit brought on a dispute over pollution damage for a ship's discharge, omission or dumping of oil or other harmful substances, or maritime production, operations, ship scrapping, repairing operations shall be under the jurisdiction of the maritime court of the place where oil pollution occurred, where injury result occurred or where preventive measures were taken;
(3)A lawsuit brought on a dispute over a performance of a maritime exploration and development contract within the territory of the People's Republic of China and the sea areas under its jurisdiction shall be under the jurisdiction of the maritime court of the place where the contract is performed.
Article 8Where the parties to a maritime dispute are foreign nationals, stateless persons, foreign enterprises or organizations and the parties, through written agreement, choose the maritime court of the People's Republic of China to exercise jurisdiction, even if the place which has practical connections with the dispute is not within the territory of the People's Republic of China, the maritime court of the People's Republic of China shall also have jurisdiction over the dispute.
Article 9An application for determining a maritime property as ownerless shall be filed by the parties with the maritime court of the place where the property is located; an application for declaring a person as dead due to a maritime accident shall be filed with the maritime court of the place where the competent organ responsible for handling with the accident or the maritime court that accepts the relevant maritime cases.
Article 10In the event of a jurisdictional dispute between a maritime court and a people's court, it shall be resolved by the disputing parties through consultation; if the dispute cannot be so resolved, it shall be reported to their common superior people's court for the designation of jurisdiction.
Article 11When the parties apply for enforcement of maritime arbitral award, apply for recognition and enforcement of a judgement or written order of a foreign court and foreign maritime arbitral award, an application shall be filed with the maritime court of the place where the property subjected to execution or of the place where the person subjected to execution has its domicile. In case of no maritime court in the place where the property subjected to execution or in the place where the person subjected to execution has its domicile, an application shall be filed with the intermediate people's court of the place where the property subjected to execution or of the place where the person subjected to execution has its domicile.
Chapter III Maritime Claims Preservation
Section 1 General Principles
Article 12Maritime claims mean maritime courts, according to applications of maritime claimants, take compulsory preservation measures against property of persons against whom the claims are brought up in order to ensure the realization of such rights.
Article 13An application for maritime claims by the parties shall, before bring a lawsuit, be filed with the maritime court of the place where the property subjected to preservation.
Article 14Maritime claims shall not be bound by procedure jurisdiction agreements or arbitration agreements relating to the said maritime claims between the parties.
Article 15Where maritime claimants apply for maritime claims, written applications shall be filed with maritime courts. Maritime claims, application reasons, objects subjected to preservation and amounts for guaranty shall be stated in applications.
Article 16A maritime court may, in accepting a maritime preservation application, order the claimant to provide a guaranty. Where the claimant fails to provide guaranty, his application shall be rejected.
Article 17After receiving an application, the maritime court must make an order within 48 hours; if the court orders the adoption of maritime preservation measures, the execution thereof shall begin immediately. Where not conforming to the conditions for a maritime preservation, the application shall be rejected.
If the party concerned is not satisfied with the order, he may, within five days from the date of the receipt of the order, apply for reconsideration which could be granted only once. The maritime court shall make a reconsideration decision within five days from the date of the receipt of the reconsideration application. Execution of the order shall not be suspended during the time of reconsideration.
Where the interested party raises objection to the maritime preservation, the maritime court, upon examination and deeming it reasonable, shall cancel the property preservation.
Article 18If the person against whom the application for maritime preservation is made provides guaranty, or the party has justified reasons for applying cancellation of maritime reservation, the people's court shall cancel the property reservation promptly.
If the maritime claimant fails to bring an action or apply for arbitration according to the arbitration agreement within the time limit specified by this Law, the people's court shall cancel the property reservation or return the guaranty promptly.
Article 19Where the relevant maritime dispute enters into litigation or arbitration procedure after execution of the maritime preservation, the party may bring an action relating to the maritime claim to the maritime court which has taken maritime claim preservation or other maritime courts having jurisdiction over it, with the exception of signing of a litigation jurisdiction agreement or an arbitration agreement between the parties.
Article 20If an application for maritime preservation is wrongfully made by a maritime claimant, the claimant shall compensate the person against whom the application is made for any loss incurred from maritime preservation.
Section 2 Arresting or Auction Sale of Ships
Article 21The following maritime claims may applied for arresting ships:
(1)the destruction of or damage to the property occurred in the operation of the ship;
(2)the loss of life or personal injury directly relating to the operation of the ship;
(3)salvage payment;
(4)the damage or threat of damage caused by the ship to the environment, seashore or the relevant interested parties; the measures taken for prevention, reduction and elimination of such damage; payment for compensation of such damage; the reasonable cost for the measures taken actually or preparing to take for restoring the environment; loses the third party suffered or will probably suffer due to such damage; and the damage, fees or loses which are similar in nature specified in this Item;
(5)fees relating to floating, elimination, recycling and destruction of sunken ships, shipwreck, stranded objects, abandoned ships or making them harmless, including fees relating to floating, elimination, recycling and destruction of the objects which still are or were abroad such ships or making them harmless, and fees relating to maintenance of abandoned ships and suppurating the crew members;
(6)the agreement or use or charter parties of the ship;
(7)an agreement for carriage of goods or passengers;
(8)goods (including luggage) on board or loss or damage related thereto;
(9)general average;
(10)towage service;
(11)pilotage service;
(12)provision of materials or services for operation, management, maintenance and repair of ships;
(13)ship building, rebuilding, repair, refitting or fitting;
(14)prescribed fees or fees for ports, canals, wharves, harbors or other waterways;
(15)wages of ship's crew or other payments, including the repatriation fee and social insurance premium payable for ship's crew;
(16)expenses paid for a ship or shipowner;
(17)ship's insurance premium (including mutual insurance membership fee) paid by a shipowner or bareboat charterer, or paid on his behalf;
(18)the commission, brokerage or agency fee related to a ship paid by the shipowner or bareboat charterer, or paid on his behalf;
(19)a dispute over ownership or possession of a ship;
(20)a dispute over use of or profit from a ship between co-owners of the ship;
(21)a mortgage of a ship or right of the same nature; or
(22)a dispute arising from a contract for sale of a ship.
Article 22No application for arrest of a ship may be filed except for the maritime claims as stipulated in Article 21 of this Law; there are exceptions, however, for executing judgments, arbitral awards or other legal documents.
Article 23If any of the following circumstances exists, a maritime court may arrest the involved ship:
(1)where the shipowner is held responsible for a maritime claim and is the owner of the ship when the arrest is executed;
(2)where the bareboat charterer of the ship is held responsible for a maritime claim and is the bareboat charterer or the owner of the ship when the arrest is executed;
(3)where a maritime claim is entitled to a mortgage of the ship or right of the same nature;
(4)where a maritime claim relates to ownership or possession of the ship; or
(5)where a maritime claim is entitled to a maritime lien.
A maritime court may arrest other ships owned by the shipowner, bareboat charterer, time charterer or voyage charterer who is held responsible for a maritime claim, when the arrest is executed, with the exception of the claims related to ownership or possession of the ship.
No ship engaging in military or government duties may be arrested.
Article 24A maritime claimant may not apply to arrest a ship having been arrested for the same maritime claim, except that any of the following circumstances exists:
(1)where the party who opposes the claim has not provided a sure guarantee;
(2)where the guarantor probably cannot perform his obligation of guarantee wholly or partly; or
(3)where the maritime claimant agrees to release the arrested ship or return the existing guarantee for justifiable reason; or cannot stop the release of the arrested ship or return of the existing guarantee by justifiable means.
Article 25For a maritime claimant applying to arrest the involved ship, if the name of the party who opposes the claim cannot be ascertained at once, the filing of his application shall not be affected.
Article 26A maritime court may issue the relevant departments with a notice for assistance in execution at the same time it issues or cancels an order for arrest of a ship, and the notice shall clearly set forth the scope and content of the assistance in execution and the relevant departments have the obligation to assist in execution. A maritime may directly dispatch personnel to board the ship for supervision if it deems necessary.
Article 27After a maritime court orders to impose preservation upon a ship, with consent of the maritime claimant, it may allow the ship to continue the operation by ways of restraining the disposition or mortgage of the ship.
Article 28The period of arresting a ship for maritime claim preservation shall be 30 days.
If a maritime claimant brings a law suit or applies for arbitration within 30 days, and applies for arrest of a ship in the course of the litigation or arbitration, the arrest of the ship shall not be restrained by the period stipulated in the preceding paragraph.
Article 29If, on the expiration of the period of arresting a ship, the party who opposes the claim fails to provide guarantee, and the ship is not suitable for being arrested longer, the maritime claimant may apply to the maritime court arresting the ship for auction of the ship after bringing a law suit or applying for arbitration.
Article 30A maritime court shall conduct examination after receiving the application for auction of a ship, and make an order approving or disapproving the auction of the ship.
If a party is not satisfied with the order, he may apply for reconsideration once within five days of the date of receiving the written order. The maritime court shall make a reconsideration decision within five days of receiving the reconsideration application. Execution of the order shall be suspended during the time of reconsideration.
Article 31Where a maritime claimant, after filing an application for auction of a ship, applies for stopping the auction, whether or not to give a permission shall be ordered by the maritime court. If the maritime court orders to stop the auction of the ship, expenses incurred for auctioning the ship shall be paid by the maritime claimant.
Article 32A maritime court that orders to auction a ship shall issue a public notice through newspapers or other new media. If a foreign ship is to be auctioned, a public notice shall be issued through newspapers or other news media distributed abroad.
A public notice shall contain the following particulars:
(1)name and nationality of the ship to be auctioned;
(2)causes and basis for auction of the ship;
(3)composition of the ship auction committee;
(4)time and place for auction of the ship;
(5)time and place for display of the ship to be auctioned;
(6)procedure to be undergone for participating in the bidding;
(7)registered items to be handled for claims; and
(8)other particulars as required to be publicized.
The period of a public notice for auction of a ship shall not less than 30 days.
Article 33A maritime court, 30 days prior to auction of the ship, shall issue notices to the registration authorities of the country of registry of the ship to be auctioned, and to the known lienor, mortgagee and owner of the ship.
The contents of the notice contain the name of the ship to be auctioned, time and place for auction of the ship, causes and basis for auction of the ship, and registration of claims.
The notice shall be in writing or take other appropriate forms by which receipt can be confirmed.
Article 34Auction of a ship shall be executed by a ship auction committee. The ship auction committee shall be composed of three or five persons, that is, execution officers appointed, as well as auctioneers and surveyors engaged by the maritime court.
The ship auction committee organizes appraisal and valuation of the ship; organizes and presides over the auction; signs a letter of confirmation for conclusion of the auction with the bidder; and handles procedures for the transfer of the ship.
The ship auction committee shall be responsible to the maritime court and subject to supervision of the maritime court.
Article 35Bidders shall register with the ship auction committee within a prescribed time limit. For registration, they shall submit for inspection the identity certificates of themselves, enterprises' legal representatives, or persons-in-charge of other organizations, as well as powers of attorney of agents, and pay a certain amount of bonds for purchase of the ship.
Article 36A ship auction committee shall display the ship to be auctioned before the auction of the ship, and shall provide facilities for inspecting the ship to be auctioned and relevant data.
Article 37The vendee shall pay without delay not less than 20 percent of the ship's price after he signs a letter of confirmation, and the remainder of the ship's price shall be settled within seven days of the date of concluding the auction, however, except otherwise agreed upon between the ship auction committee and the vendee.
Article 38Once the vendee has settled the price in full, the original shipowner shall delivery the ship to the vendee on the basis of the current condition of the ship, at the place of berth of the ship, within a fixed time limit. The ship auction committee shall organize and supervise the delivery of the ship, and sign a letter of confirmation of ship's delivery with the vendee after the delivery of the ship.
After the delivery of the ship is finished, the maritime court shall issue an order releasing the arrest of the ship.
Article 39After the delivery of the ship, the maritime court shall issue a public notice through newspapers or other news media, announcing that the ship has been auctioned openly and delivered to the vendee.
Article 40After accepting the ship, the vendee shall undergo formalities for registration of the ship's ownership at the ship registration authorities on the basis of the letter of confirmation for conclusion of auction and relevant data. The original shipowner shall undergo formalities for cancellation of registration of the ship's ownership at the original ship registration authorities. Failure to undergo formalities for cancellation of registration of the ship's ownership by the original shipowner shall not affect the transfer of the ship's ownership.
Article 41Malicious collusion between bidders makes the auction invalid. Any bidder involved in malicious collusion shall pay expenses for auctioning the ship and compensate losses incurred. The maritime court may impose upon the bidder involved in malicious collusion a fine of not more than ten percent and not less than 30 percent of the highest price offered.
Article 42In addition to the provisions in this Section, auction shall be governed by the relevant provisions of the Auction Law of the People's Republic of China.
Article 43Auction of an arrested ship for debt payment during the procedure of execution may be referred to the relevant provisions of this Section.
Section 3 Arrest and Auction of the Goods on Board
Article 44A maritime claimant may apply to arrest the goods on board for ensuring the fulfillment of his maritime claim.
The goods on board to be arrested on application shall be under ownership of the party who opposes the claim.
Article 45The value of the goods on board to be arrested on application by a maritime claimant shall be equivalent to the amount of his claim.
Article 46The period of arresting the goods on board for maritime claim preservation shall be 30 days.
If a maritime claimant brings a law suit or applies for arbitration within 15 days, and applies for arrest of the goods on board in the course of the litigation or arbitration, the arrest of the goods on board shall not be restrained by the period stipulated in the preceding paragraph.
Article 47If, on the expiration of the period of arresting the goods on board, the party who opposes the claim fails to provide guarantee, and the goods are not suitable for being arrested longer, the maritime claimant may apply to the maritime court arresting the goods on board for auction of the goods after bringing a law suit or applying for arbitration.
For articles which cannot be stored, or are difficult to be stored, or the storage expense may exceed their value, the maritime claimant may apply for auction in advance.
Article 48A maritime court shall conduct examination after receiving the application for auction of the goods on board, and make an order approving or disapproving the auction of the goods on board.
If a party is not satisfied with the order, he may apply for reconsideration once within five days of the date of receiving the written order. The maritime court shall make a reconsideration decision within five days of receiving the reconsideration application. Execution of the order shall be suspended during the time of reconsideration.
Article 49Auction of the goods on board shall be executed by an auction organization composed of execution officers appointed, and auctioneers engaged by the maritime court, or executed by an agency authorized by the maritime court.
Auction of the goods on board, if not covered by the provisions of this Section, shall be referred to the relevant provisions of Section 2 of this Chapter on auction of a ship.
Article 50Application by a maritime claimant for maritime claim preservation imposed upon fuel and materials used by a ship related to the maritime claim shall be governed by the provisions of this Section.
Chapter IV Maritime Injunction
Article 51A maritime injunction means any of compulsory measures by which a maritime court, on application by a maritime claimant, orders an act or omission by the party who opposes the claim, in order to protect the lawful rights and interests of the maritime claimant against any infringement.
Article 52An interested party applying for a maritime injunction before bringing a law suit shall refer to the maritime court at the place where the maritime dispute occurred.
Article 53A maritime injunction shall not be restrained by a jurisdiction agreement or an arbitration agreement relating to the maritime claim as agreed upon between the parties.
Article 54A maritime claimant applying for a maritime injunction shall submit a written application to a maritime court. The application shall clearly set forth causes for application with relevant evidence attached thereto.
Article 55A maritime court accepting an application for a maritime injunction may order the maritime claimant to provide guarantee. If the maritime claimant fails to provide guarantee, the application shall be rejected.
Article 56To make a maritime injunction, the following conditions shall be fulfilled:
(1)The claimant has a specific maritime claim;
(2)There is a need to rectify an act committed by the party who opposes the claim, in violation of the provisions of the law or the stipulations of a contract; and
(3)In case of emergency, failure to make a maritime injunction immediately will cause damage or expand damage.
Article 57After accepting the application, a maritime court shall make an order within 48 hours. If an order is made for making a maritime injunction, it shall be executed immediately; if the conditions for a maritime injunction are not fulfilled, an order shall be made to reject the application.
Article 58If a party is not satisfied with the order, he may apply for reconsideration once within five days of the date of receiving the written order. The maritime court shall make a reconsideration decision within five days of receiving the reconsideration application. Execution of the order shall not be suspended during the time of reconsideration.
If an interested party lodges an objection to a maritime injunction, the maritime court shall order to cancel the maritime injunction if it deems the causes are tenable through investigation.
Article 59If the party who opposes the claim refuses to obey a maritime injunction, the maritime court may impose a fine or detain him in accordance with the seriousness of the circumstances; if a crime has been constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated according to the law.
A fine on an individual shall not be less than 1,000 yuan and not more than 30,000 yuan . A fine on a unit shall not be less than 30,000 yuan and not more than 100,000 yuan.
The period of detention shall not be longer than 15 days.
Article 60A maritime claimant wrongfully submitting an application for a maritime injunction shall compensate losses incurred by the party who opposes the claim or an interested party.
Article 61If no litigation or arbitration procedures start for relevant maritime disputes after the execution of the maritime injunction, the parties may bring a law suit for this maritime claim to the maritime court making the maritime injunction or the other maritime court having jurisdiction, except that a jurisdiction agreement or an arbitration agreement has been concluded between the parties.
Chapter V Maritime Evidence Preservation
Article 62Maritime evidence preservation means any of compulsory measures by which a maritime court obtains, retains or seals up evidence related to the maritime claim on application by the maritime claimant.
Article 63An interested party applying for maritime evidence preservation before bringing a law suit shall refer to the maritime court at the place where the evidence to be preserved is located.
Article 64Maritime evidence preservation shall not be restrained by a jurisdiction agreement or an arbitration agreement relating to the maritime claim as agreed upon between the parties.
Article 65A maritime claimant applying for maritime evidence preservation shall submit a written application to a maritime court. The application shall clearly set forth the evidence to be preserved on application, the relation between the evidence and the maritime claim and causes for application.
Article 66A maritime court accepting an application for maritime evidence preservation may order the maritime claimant to provide guarantee. If the maritime claimant fails to provide guarantee, the application shall be rejected.
Article 67To impose maritime evidence preservation, the following conditions shall be fulfilled:
(1)The claimant is the party to the maritime claim;
(2)The evidence to be preserved on application provides proof for the maritime claim;
(3)The party who opposes the claim is the person related to the evidence to be preserved on application; and
(4)In case of emergency, failure to impose evidence preservation immediately will result in loss or difficulty in obtaining the evidence for the maritime claim.
Article 68After accepting the application, a maritime court shall make an order within 48 hours. If an order is made for imposing maritime evidence preservation measures, it shall be executed immediately; if the conditions for maritime evidence preservation are not fulfilled, an order shall be made to reject the application.
Article 69If a party is not satisfied with the order, he may apply for reconsideration once within five days of the date of receiving the written order. The maritime court shall make a reconsideration decision within five days of receiving the reconsideration application. Execution of the order shall not be suspended during the time of reconsideration. If the causes for applying for reconsideration by the party who opposes the claim are tenable, the evidence preserved shall be returned to the party who opposes the claim.
If an interested party lodges an objection to maritime evidence preservation, the maritime court shall order to cancel maritime evidence preservation if it deems the causes are tenable through investigation; if preservation has been imposed, evidence related to the interested party shall be returned to the interested party.
Article 70A maritime court imposing maritime evidence preservation may seal up the evidence, may obtain reproductions or duplicates, or take photos, conduct tape-recording, make extracts or records of investigation. If really necessary, the original of the evidence shall be obtained.
Article 71A maritime claimant wrongfully submitting an application for maritime evidence preservation shall compensate losses incurred by the party who opposes the claim or an interested party.
Article 72If no litigation or arbitration procedures start for relevant maritime disputes after the imposition of maritime evidence preservation, the parties may bring a law suit for the maritime claim to the maritime court imposing maritime evidence preservation or the other maritime court having jurisdiction, except that a jurisdiction agreement or an arbitration agreement has been concluded between the parties
Chapter VI Maritime Guarantee
Article 73Maritime guarantee includes guarantee involved in procedures provided in this Law such as maritime claim preservation, maritime injunction, maritime evidence preservation.
The guarantee shall be in form of providing cash or surety, establishing mortgage or pledge.
Article 74A guaranty provided by a maritime claimant shall be delivered to the maritime court; a guaranty provided by the person against whom the application for maritime preservation is made may be delivered to the maritime court, or delivered to the maritime claimant.
Article 75The modes and quantity of a guaranty provided by a maritime claimant shall be determined by the maritime court. The modes and quantity of a guaranty provided by the person against whom the application for maritime preservation is made shall be determined through consultation between the maritime claimant and the person against whom the application for maritime preservation is made; if failing such consultation, they shall be determined by a maritime court.
Article 76Where a maritime claimant requests a person against whom the application for maritime preservation is made to provide guaranty on a maritime claim, the quantity of the guaranty shall equal to the quantity of his creditor's rights, but shall not exceed the value of the preserved property.
The quantity of a guaranty provided by a maritime claimant shall equal to the losses possibly caused to a person against whom the application for maritime preservation is made due to his claim. The specific quantity thereof shall be determined by the maritime court.
Article 77After a guaranty is provided, the person providing the guaranty may, for any justified reasons, file an application to the maritime court to reduce, modify or cancel the guaranty.
Article 78Where losses are caused to a person against whom the application for maritime preservation is made due to excessive quantity of the guaranty claimed by a maritime claimant, the maritime claimant shall bear the liability for compensation.
Article 79The guaranty involved in constituting a limitation fund for maritime claims liability and in advance execution as well as other procedures may be handled by reference to the provisions of this Chapter.
Chapter VII Service
Article 80In serving a maritime litigation document, the relevant provisions of the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China are applicable, and the following methods may also be adopted:
(1)to serve on an agent ad litem commissioned by the person on whom the litigation document is to be served.
(2)to serve on a representative office or branch office established in the People's Republic of China by the person on whom the service is to be made or on his business agent;
(3)to serve by employing other appropriate methods by which the receipt can be confirmed.
A legal paper relating to the arrest of a ship may also be served on the captain of the ship involved.
Article 81If the person who has the obligation of receiving a legal paper refuses to sign and receive the legal paper, the person serving the paper shall record on the receipt the situations. After the person serving the paper and the witness have affixed their signatures or seals to the receipt, the legal paper shall be left at his domicile and the service shall be deemed completed.
Chapter VIII Trial Procedures
Section 1 Provisions on Trying Cases Involving Collision of Ships
Article 82When a plaintiff brings an action and a defendant files a defence, the Investigation Form of Maritime Accident shall be truthfully completed.
Article 83When serving a statement of complaint or a defence on any party, the maritime court shall not attach thereto any relevant evidential materials.
Article 84The parties shall finish the provision of evidence before a court session. After having finished the provision of evidence and issued a note stating the provision of evidence to the maritime court, the parties may apply to consult evidential materials relating to the collision of ships.
Article 85The parties shall not repudiate their statements in the Investigation Form of Maritime Accident and the evidence they have provided, except that they have new evidence and full reasons which explain that such evidence cannot be provided during the period of providing evidence.
Article 86The inspection and evaluation of a ship shall be conducted by an institution or individual with authority granted by the State or with professional qualifications. An inspection or evaluation conclusion drawn by an institution or individual without authority granted by the State or without professional qualifications shall not be accepted by the maritime court.
Article 87A maritime court trying a case involving collision of ships shall conclude the case within one year after placing the case on the docket. Any extension of the period necessitated by special circumstances shall be subject to the approval of the president of the court.
Section 2 Provisions on Trying Cases Involving General Average
Article 88With respect to a dispute arising from general average, the parties may agree to commission an adjustment institution to have it adjusted, or directly bring an action in the maritime court. When entertaining a dispute arising from general average that has not been adjusted, the maritime court may commission an adjustment institution to have it adjusted.
Article 89A report of general average adjustment made by an adjustment institution, if the parties do not raise any objections, may be regarded as the basis for contributing liabilities; if the parties raise any objections, the maritime court shall determine to accept them or not.
Article 90Not being affected by the procedures of an action of general average brought for an identical average accident, the parties may bring an action against the person liable for any non general average losses.
Article 91An action of non general average brought by the parties for an identical accident in a maritime court entertaining the case involving general average, as well as an action of recourse brought for general average contribution against the person liable, may be tried in combination by the maritime court.
Article 92The maritime court trying a case involving general average shall conclude the case within one year after placing the case on the docket. Any extension of the period necessitated by special circumstances shall be subject to the approval of the president of the court.
Section 3 Provision on Exercising the Right to Indemnity by Subrogation by a Maritime Insurer
Article 93Where the occurrence of an insured event is caused by a third party, after having paid insurance indemnity to the insured, the insurer may exercise by subrogation the right of the insured to demand indemnity against the third party up to the limit of insurance indemnity.
Article 94When an insurer exercises the right to indemnity by subrogation, if the insured does not bring an action against the third party causing the insured event, the insurer shall, in the name of itself, bring an action against the third party.
Article 95When an insurer exercises the right to indemnity by subrogation, if the insured has brought an action against the third party causing the insured event, the insurer may request the court entertaining the case to change the party so as to exercise by subrogation the right of the insured to demand indemnity against the third party.
Where the insurance indemnity obtained by the insured can not make up all the losses caused by a third party, the insurer and the insured may, as joint plaintiffs, demand indemnity from the third party.
Article 96When bring an action or applying to participate in the proceedings in accordance with the provision of Articles 94 and 95 of this Law, an insurer shall submit vouchers certifying the payment of insurance indemnity by the insurer, as well as other documents that ought to be submitted when participating in the proceedings, to the maritime court entertaining the case.
Article 97With respect to a claim for indemnity against oil pollution damage caused by a ship, the person suffering for the damage may make the claim to the shipowner causing the oil pollution damage, or directly make the claim to the insurer bearing the liability for oil pollution damage of the shipowner or to other person providing financial suretyship.
Where the insurer bearing the liability for oil pollution damage of the shipowner or the other person providing financial suretyship against whom an action is filed, he is entitled to require the shipowner causing the oil pollution damage to participate in the proceedings.
Section 4 Summary Procedures, Procedures for Hastening Debt Recovery and Procedures for Publicizing Public Notice for Assertion of Claims
Article 98When trying a simple maritime case in which the facts are evident, the rights and obligations clear and the disputes trivial in character, the maritime court may apply the provisions on summary procedures in the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China.
Article 99When requesting payment of a pecuniary debt or recovery of negotiable instruments from a debtor on the basis of any maritime causes, a creditor may, if the relevant provisions of the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China are conformed to, apply to the maritime court that has jurisdiction for an order of payment.
Where a debtor is a foreign national, stateless person, foreign enterprise or organization, but he has domicile, representative office or branch office within the territory of the People's Republic of China and an order of payment can be served, the creditor may apply to the maritime court that has jurisdiction for an order of payment.
Article 100A holder of a voucher for taking delivery of goods such as a bill of loading may, if the voucher for taking delivery of goods is out of his control or destroyed, apply to the maritime court of the place where the goods are for publication of public notice for assertion of claims.
Chapter IX Procedures for Constituting a Limitation Fund for Maritime Claims Liability
Article 101Where limitation of liability is applied according to law after the occurrence of a maritime accident, the shipowner, charter, operator, salvor and insurer may apply to the maritime court to constitute a limitation fund for maritime claims liability.
Where any oil pollution damage is caused by a ship, the shipowner and the insurer of liability or other persons providing financial suretyship shall, for a purpose of obtaining the right to limitation of liability stipulated by law, constitute a limitation fund for maritime claims liability of oil pollution damage with the maritime court.
An application for constituting a limitation fund for liability may be submitted before bring an action or during the proceedings, but it shall be submitted at least before the making of the judgment of first instance.
Article 102Where an application for constituting a limitation fund for maritime claims liability is to be submitted before bring an action, the parties shall submit it to the maritime court of the place where the accident is occurred, the place where the contract is performed or the place where the ship is arrested.
Article 103The constitution of a limitation fund for maritime claims liability shall not be restricted by an agreement between the parties on litigation jurisdiction or arbitration.
Article 104When applying to constitute a limitation fund for maritime claims liability, the applicant shall submit a written application. The application shall specify the quantity of and the reasons for the limitation fund for maritime claims liability, as well as the names, addresses and corresponding methods of the known interested parties, and shall have relevant evidence attached.
Article 105After entertaining an application for constituting a limitation fund for maritime claims liability, the maritime court shall, within seven days, issue a notice to the known interested parties, and publish a public announcement in newspapers or through other news media.
The notice and public announcement shall include the following contents:
(1)name of the applicant;
(2)facts of and reasons for the application;
(3)matters for which the limitation fund for maritime claims liability is to be constituted;
(4)matters concerning the undertaking of registration of the creditors' rights;
(5)other matter that need to be made known.
Article 106Where an interested party objects the application of an applicant for constituting a limitation fund for maritime claims liability, the party shall, within seven days from the date of the receipt of the notice or within thirty days from the date of the public announcement for those who have not received the notice, raise the objection in written form to the maritime court.
After receiving a written objection submitted by the interested party, the maritime court shall examine it and make an order within fifteen days. Where the objection is established, it shall order the application of the applicant to be rejected; if the objection is not established, it shall order to approve the applicant to constitute a imitation fund for maritime claims liability.
Where the parties are not satisfied with an order, they may file an appeal within seven days from the date of the receipt of the order. The people's court of second instance shall make an order within fifteen days from the date of the receipt of appeal petition.
Article 107Where the interested parties do not raise any objections within the prescribed time period, the maritime court shall order to approve the applicant to constitute a limitation fund for maritime claims liability.
Article 108After an order approving an applicant to constitute a limitation fund for maritime claims liability takes effect, the applicant shall constitute a limitation fund for maritime claims liability with the maritime court.
In constituting a limitation fund for maritime claims liability, the applicant may provide cash, or provide guaranty approved by the maritime court.
The quantity of a limitation fund for maritime claims shall be the sum of such an amount of the limitation of liability for maritime claims, together with the interests therefrom from the date of the occurrence of the accident until the date of the constitution of the fund. Where the fund is constituted in a form of guaranty, the quantity of the guaranty shall be the quantity of the fund together with the interests therefrom during the existence of the fund.
Where the fund is constituted in a form of cash, the date on which the fund reaches the account designated by the maritime court shall be the date of the constitution of the fund. Where the fund is constituted in a form of guaranty, the date on which the guaranty is accepted by the maritime court shall be the date of the constitution of the fund.
Article 109After the constitution of a limitation fund for maritime claims, for any maritime disputes, the parties shall bring an action in the maritime court constituting a limitation fund for maritime claims, except that the parties reach an agreement on litigation jurisdiction or arbitration.
Article 110Where the application for constituting a limitation fund for maritime claims is wrong, the applicant shall indemnify the losses therefrom suffered by the interested parties.
Chapter X Procedures for Registering Creditors' Rights and Repayment of Debt
Article 111After the publishing of a public announcement of the maritime court concerning the order relating to the compulsory auction of a ship, the creditors shall apply to register the creditors' rights relating to the ship that is to be auctioned within the period of the public announcement. Where no registration is conducted by the expiration of the period of the public announcement, the right to the repayment of debt from the proceeds of the auction of the ship shall be deemed as having been waived.
Article 112After the publishing of a public announcement concerning the entertaining of an application by the maritime court for constituting a limitation fund for maritime claims, the creditors shall, within the period of the public announcement, apply to register the creditors' rights relating to the maritime accident occurred in specific circumstances. Where no registration is conducted by the expiration of the period of the public announcement, the creditors' right shall be deemed as having been waived.
Article 113When applying to register the creditors' rights with a maritime court, the creditors shall submit written applications, and shall provide evidence of creditors' rights.
Evidence of creditors' rights include written judgment, order in writing, conciliation statement, arbitration award and document evidencing creditors' rights, as well as other evidential materials certifying the existence of maritime claims.
Article 114The maritime court shall examine the application of a creditor; where evidence of creditors' rights is provided, it shall order to approve the registration; where no evidence of creditors' rights is provided, it shall order to reject the application.
Article 115With respect to the written judgment, order in writing, conciliation statement, arbitration award and document evidencing creditors' rights provided by the creditors to certify the creditors' rights, the maritime court shall, if ascertaining that the above-mentioned documents are true and lawful upon examination, make an order to have them affirmed.
Article 116Where any other evidence for maritime claims is provided, the creditors shall, after registering the creditors' rights, bring an action for affirming rights in the maritime court entertaining the registration of creditors' rights. Where the parities conclude an arbitration agreement, that shall promptly apply for arbitration.
The judgment and order made by the maritime court on an action for affirming rights shall be legally effective, the parties shall not file an appeal.
Article 117After trying and affirming the rights, the maritime court shall issue a notice of the creditors' meeting to the creditors, and organize to convene the creditors' meeting.
Article 118The creditors' meeting may propose through consultation the proceeds of the ship or a plan for the distribution of the limitation fund for maritime claims, and conclude an agreement on the repayment of debt.
The agreement on the repayment of debt shall be legally effective upon the approval by an order of the maritime court.
Where the creditors' meeting fails to conclude an agreement, the maritime court shall, in accordance with the order of the repayment of debt as stipulated in the Maritime Code of the People's Republic of China and other relevant laws, make a written order to determine the proceeds of the ship or the plan for the distribution of the limitation fund for maritime claims.
Article 119The proceeds of the auction of a ship and the interests therefrom, or the limitation fund for maritime claims and the interests therefrom, shall be distributed simultaneously.
When distributing the proceeds of a ship, the litigation costs ought to be borne by the persons liable, the expenses for preserving and auctioning the ship and distributing the proceeds of ship, and other expenses incurred for the common interests of the creditors, shall be deducted and paid first from the proceeds of the ship.
The remnant after repaying the debt shall be returned to the original shipowner or the person constituting the limitation fund for maritime claims.
Chapter XI Procedures for Publicizing Notice for Assertion of Maritime Liens
Article 120When a ship is transferred, the transferee may apply to the maritime court for publicizing notice for assertion of maritime liens, so as to urge the persons enjoying maritime liens to promptly claim their rights and to extinguish the maritime liens attached to the ship.
Article 121Where applying for publicizing notice for assertion of maritime liens, the transferee shall submit its application to the maritime court of the place where the transferred ship is delivered or the place where the transferee has its domicile.
Article 122When applying for publicizing notice for assertion of maritime liens, an application, the ship transfer contract, the technical information of the ship and other documents shall be submitted to the maritime court. The application shall specify the name of the ship, the facts of and reasons for applying for publicizing notice for assertion of maritime liens.
Article 123After receiving the application and relevant documents, the maritime court shall examine them and make an order approving or disapproving the application within seven days.
Where the transferee is not satisfied with the order, it may apply for reconsideration which could be granted only once.
Article 124After the order approving the application takes effect, the maritime court shall publish a public announcement in newspapers or through other news media, so as to urge the persons enjoying maritime liens to promptly claim their rights within the period of publication of the notice.
The period of publication of a notice for maritime liens shall be sixty days.
Article 125Where a person enjoying maritime liens claims his rights within the period of publication of a notice for maritime liens, he shall undergo registration procedures with the maritime court; where no rights are claimed, the maritime liens shall be deemed as having been waived.
Article 126Where no one claims the maritime liens by the expiration of the period of publication of a notice for maritime liens, the maritime court shall, in accordance with the application of the parties, make a judgment to declare that no maritime liens are attached to the transferred ship. The contents of the judgment shall be publicly announced.
Chapter XII Supplementary Provisions
Article 127This Law shall enter into force as of July 1, 2000.
中华人民共和国海事诉讼特别程序法
（1999年12月25日第九届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第十三次会议通过 1999年12月25日中华人民共和国主席令第二十八号公布 自2000年7月1日起施行）
目 录
第一章 总 则
第二章 管 辖
第三章 海事请求保全
第一节 一般规定
第二节 船舶的扣押与拍卖
第三节 船载货物的扣押与拍卖
第四章 海事强制令
第五章 海事证据保全
第六章 海事担保
第七章 送 达
第八章 审判程序
第一节 审理船舶碰撞案件的规定
第二节 审理共同海损案件的规定
第三节 海上保险人行使代位请求赔偿权利的规定
第四节 简易程序、督促程序和公示催告程序
第九章 设立海事赔偿责任限制基金程序
第十章 债权登记与受偿程序
第十一章 船舶优先权催告程序
第十二章 附 则
第一章 总 则
第一条 为维护海事诉讼当事人的诉讼权利，保证人民法院查明事实，分清责任，正确适用法律，及时审理海事案件，制定本法。
第二条 在中华人民共和国领域内进行海事诉讼，适用《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》和本法。本法有规定的，依照其规定。
第三条 中华人民共和国缔结或者参加的国际条约与《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》和本法对涉外海事诉讼有不同规定的，适用该国际条约的规定，但中华人民共和国声明保留的条款除外。
第四条 海事法院受理当事人因海事侵权纠纷、海商合同纠纷以及法律规定的其他海事纠纷提起的诉讼。
第五条 海事法院及其所在地的高级人民法院和最高人民法院审理海事案件的，适用本法。
第二章 管 辖
第六条 海事诉讼的地域管辖，依照《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》的有关规定。
下列海事诉讼的地域管辖，依照以下规定：
（一）因海事侵权行为提起的诉讼，除依照《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》第二十九条至第三十一条的规定以外，还可以由船籍港所在地海事法院管辖；
（二）因海上运输合同纠纷提起的诉讼，除依照《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》第二十八条的规定以外，还可以由转运港所在地海事法院管辖；
（三）因海船租用合同纠纷提起的诉讼，由交船港、还船港、船籍港所在地、被告住所地海事法院管辖；
（四）因海上保赔合同纠纷提起的诉讼，由保赔标的物所在地、事故发生地、被告住所地海事法院管辖；
（五）因海船的船员劳务合同纠纷提起的诉讼，由原告住所地、合同签订地、船员登船港或者离船港所在地、被告住所地海事法院管辖；
（六）因海事担保纠纷提起的诉讼，由担保物所在地、被告住所地海事法院管辖；因船舶抵押纠纷提起的诉讼，还可以由船籍港所在地海事法院管辖；
（七）因海船的船舶所有权、占有权、使用权、优先权纠纷提起的诉讼，由船舶所在地、船籍港所在地、被告住所地海事法院管辖。
第七条 下列海事诉讼，由本条规定的海事法院专属管辖：
（一）因沿海港口作业纠纷提起的诉讼，由港口所在地海事法院管辖；
（二）因船舶排放、泄漏、倾倒油类或者其他有害物质，海上生产、作业或者拆船、修船作业造成海域污染损害提起的诉讼，由污染发生地、损害结果地或者采取预防污染措施地海事法院管辖；
（三）因在中华人民共和国领域和有管辖权的海域履行的海洋勘探开发合同纠纷提起的诉讼，由合同履行地海事法院管辖。
第八条 海事纠纷的当事人都是外国人、无国籍人、外国企业或者组织，当事人书面协议选择中华人民共和国海事法院管辖的，即使与纠纷有实际联系的地点不在中华人民共和国领域内，中华人民共和国海事法院对该纠纷也具有管辖权。
第九条 当事人申请认定海上财产无主的，向财产所在地海事法院提出；申请因海上事故宣告死亡的，向处理海事事故主管机关所在地或者受理相关海事案件的海事法院提出。
第十条 海事法院与地方人民法院之间因管辖权发生争议，由争议双方协商解决；协商解决不了的，报请他们的共同上级人民法院指定管辖。
第十一条 当事人申请执行海事仲裁裁决，申请承认和执行外国法院判决、裁定以及国外海事仲裁裁决的，向被执行的财产所在地或者被执行人住所地海事法院提出。被执行的财产所在地或者被执行人住所地没有海事法院的，向被执行的财产所在地或者被执行人住所地的中级人民法院提出。
第三章 海事请求保全
第一节 一般规定
第十二条 海事请求保全是指海事法院根据海事请求人的申请，为保障其海事请求的实现，对被请求人的财产所采取的强制措施。
第十三条 当事人在起诉前申请海事请求保全，应当向被保全的财产所在地海事法院提出。
第十四条 海事请求保全不受当事人之间关于该海事请求的诉讼管辖协议或者仲裁协议的约束。
第十五条 海事请求人申请海事请求保全，应当向海事法院提交书面申请。申请书应当载明海事请求事项、申请理由、保全的标的物以及要求提供担保的数额，并附有关证据。
第十六条 海事法院受理海事请求保全申请，可以责令海事请求人提供担保。海事请求人不提供的，驳回其申请。
第十七条 海事法院接受申请后，应当在四十八小时内作出裁定。裁定采取海事请求保全措施的，应当立即执行；对不符合海事请求保全条件的，裁定驳回其申请。
当事人对裁定不服的，可以在收到裁定书之日起五日内申请复议一次。海事法院应当在收到复议申请之日起五日内作出复议决定。复议期间不停止裁定的执行。
利害关系人对海事请求保全提出异议，海事法院经审查，认为理由成立的，应当解除对其财产的保全。
第十八条 被请求人提供担保，或者当事人有正当理由申请解除海事请求保全的，海事法院应当及时解除保全。
海事请求人在本法规定的期间内，未提起诉讼或者未按照仲裁协议申请仲裁的，海事法院应当及时解除保全或者返还担保。
第十九条 海事请求保全执行后，有关海事纠纷未进入诉讼或者仲裁程序的，当事人就该海事请求，可以向采取海事请求保全的海事法院或者其他有管辖权的海事法院提起诉讼，但当事人之间订有诉讼管辖协议或者仲裁协议的除外。
第二十条 海事请求人申请海事请求保全错误的，应当赔偿被请求人或者利害关系人因此所遭受的损失。
第二节 船舶的扣押与拍卖
第二十一条 下列海事请求，可以申请扣押船舶：
（一）船舶营运造成的财产灭失或者损坏；
（二）与船舶营运直接有关的人身伤亡；
（三）海难救助；
（四）船舶对环境、海岸或者有关利益方造成的损害或者损害威胁；为预防、减少或者消除此种损害而采取的措施；为此种损害而支付的赔偿；为恢复环境而实际采取或者准备采取的合理措施的费用；第三方因此种损害而蒙受或者可能蒙受的损失；以及与本项所指的性质类似的损害、费用或者损失；
（五）与起浮、清除、回收或者摧毁沉船、残骸、搁浅船、被弃船或者使其无害有关的费用，包括与起浮、清除、回收或者摧毁仍在或者曾在该船上的物件或者使其无害的费用，以及与维护放弃的船舶和维持其船员有关的费用；
（六）船舶的使用或者租用的协议；
（七）货物运输或者旅客运输的协议；
（八）船载货物（包括行李）或者与其有关的灭失或者损坏；
（九）共同海损；
（十）拖航；
（十一）引航；
（十二）为船舶营运、管理、维护、维修提供物资或者服务；
（十三）船舶的建造、改建、修理、改装或者装备；
（十四）港口、运河、码头、港湾以及其他水道规费和费用；
（十五）船员的工资和其他款项，包括应当为船员支付的遣返费和社会保险费；
（十六）为船舶或者船舶所有人支付的费用；
（十七）船舶所有人或者光船承租人应当支付或者他人为其支付的船舶保险费（包括互保会费）；
（十八）船舶所有人或者光船承租人应当支付的或者他人为其支付的与船舶有关的佣金、经纪费或者代理费；
（十九）有关船舶所有权或者占有的纠纷；
（二十）船舶共有人之间有关船舶的使用或者收益的纠纷；
（二十一）船舶抵押权或者同样性质的权利；
（二十二）因船舶买卖合同产生的纠纷。
第二十二条 非因本法第二十一条规定的海事请求不得申请扣押船舶，但为执行判决、仲裁裁决以及其他法律文书的除外。
第二十三条 有下列情形之一的，海事法院可以扣押当事船舶：
（一）船舶所有人对海事请求负有责任，并且在实施扣押时是该船的所有人；
（二）船舶的光船承租人对海事请求负有责任，并且在实施扣押时是该船的光船承租人或者所有人；
（三）具有船舶抵押权或者同样性质的权利的海事请求；
（四）有关船舶所有权或者占有的海事请求；
（五）具有船舶优先权的海事请求。
海事法院可以扣押对海事请求负有责任的船舶所有人、光船承租人、定期租船人或者航次租船人在实施扣押时所有的其他船舶，但与船舶所有权或者占有有关的请求除外。
从事军事、政府公务的船舶不得被扣押。
第二十四条 海事请求人不得因同一海事请求申请扣押已被扣押过的船舶，但有下列情形之一的除外：
（一）被请求人未提供充分的担保；
（二）担保人有可能不能全部或者部分履行担保义务；
（三）海事请求人因合理的原因同意释放被扣押的船舶或者返还已提供的担保；或者不能通过合理措施阻止释放被扣押的船舶或者返还已提供的担保。
第二十五条 海事请求人申请扣押当事船舶，不能立即查明被请求人名称的，不影响申请的提出。
第二十六条 海事法院在发布或者解除扣押船舶命令的同时，可以向有关部门发出协助执行通知书，通知书应当载明协助执行的范围和内容，有关部门有义务协助执行。海事法院认为必要，可以直接派员登轮监护。
第二十七条 海事法院裁定对船舶实施保全后，经海事请求人同意，可以采取限制船舶处分或者抵押等方式允许该船舶继续营运。
第二十八条 海事请求保全扣押船舶的期限为三十日。
海事请求人在三十日内提起诉讼或者申请仲裁以及在诉讼或者仲裁过程中申请扣押船舶的，扣押船舶不受前款规定期限的限制。
第二十九条 船舶扣押期间届满，被请求人不提供担保，而且船舶不宜继续扣押的，海事请求人可以在提起诉讼或者申请仲裁后，向扣押船舶的海事法院申请拍卖船舶。
第三十条 海事法院收到拍卖船舶的申请后，应当进行审查，作出准予或者不准予拍卖船舶的裁定。
当事人对裁定不服的，可以在收到裁定书之日起五日内申请复议一次。海事法院应当在收到复议申请之日起五日内作出复议决定。复议期间停止裁定的执行。
第三十一条 海事请求人提交拍卖船舶申请后，又申请终止拍卖的，是否准许由海事法院裁定。海事法院裁定终止拍卖船舶的，为准备拍卖船舶所发生的费用由海事请求人承担。
第三十二条 海事法院裁定拍卖船舶，应当通过报纸或者其他新闻媒体发布公告。拍卖外籍船舶的，应当通过对外发行的报纸或者其他新闻媒体发布公告。
公告包括以下内容：
（一）被拍卖船舶的名称和国籍；
（二）拍卖船舶的理由和依据；
（三）拍卖船舶委员会的组成；
（四）拍卖船舶的时间和地点；
（五）被拍卖船舶的展示时间和地点；
（六）参加竞买应当办理的手续；
（七）办理债权登记事项；
（八）需要公告的其他事项。
拍卖船舶的公告期间不少于三十日。
第三十三条 海事法院应当在拍卖船舶三十日前，向被拍卖船舶登记国的登记机关和已知的船舶优先权人、抵押权人和船舶所有人发出通知。
通知内容包括被拍卖船舶的名称、拍卖船舶的时间和地点、拍卖船舶的理由和依据以及债权登记等。
通知方式包括书面方式和能够确认收悉的其他适当方式。
第三十四条 拍卖船舶由拍卖船舶委员会实施。拍卖船舶委员会由海事法院指定的本院执行人员和聘请的拍卖师、验船师三人或者五人组成。
拍卖船舶委员会组织对船舶鉴定、估价；组织和主持拍卖；与竞买人签订拍卖成交确认书；办理船舶移交手续。
拍卖船舶委员会对海事法院负责，受海事法院监督。
第三十五条 竞买人应当在规定的期限内向拍卖船舶委员会登记。登记时应当交验本人、企业法定代表人或者其他组织负责人身份证明和委托代理人的授权委托书，并交纳一定数额的买船保证金。
第三十六条 拍卖船舶委员会应当在拍卖船舶前，展示被拍卖船舶，并提供察看被拍卖船舶的条件和有关资料。
第三十七条 买受人在签署拍卖成交确认书后，应当立即交付不低于百分之二十的船舶价款，其余价款在成交之日起七日内付清，但拍卖船舶委员会与买受人另有约定的除外。
第三十八条 买受人付清全部价款后，原船舶所有人应当在指定的期限内于船舶停泊地以船舶现状向买受人移交船舶。拍卖船舶委员会组织和监督船舶的移交，并在船舶移交后与买受人签署船舶移交完毕确认书。
移交船舶完毕，海事法院发布解除扣押船舶命令。
第三十九条 船舶移交后，海事法院应当通过报纸或者其他新闻媒体发布公告，公布船舶已经公开拍卖并移交给买受人。
第四十条 买受人接收船舶后，应当持拍卖成交确认书和有关材料，向船舶登记机关办理船舶所有权登记手续。原船舶所有人应当向原船舶登记机关办理船舶所有权注销登记。原船舶所有人不办理船舶所有权注销登记的，不影响船舶所有权的转让。
第四十一条 竞买人之间恶意串通的，拍卖无效。参与恶意串通的竞买人应当承担拍卖船舶费用并赔偿有关损失。海事法院可以对参与恶意串通的竞买人处最高应价百分之十以上百分之三十以下的罚款。
第四十二条 除本节规定的以外，拍卖适用《中华人民共和国拍卖法》的有关规定。
第四十三条 执行程序中拍卖被扣押船舶清偿债务的，可以参照本节有关规定。
第三节 船载货物的扣押与拍卖
第四十四条 海事请求人为保障其海事请求的实现，可以申请扣押船载货物。
申请扣押的船载货物，应当属于被请求人所有。
第四十五条 海事请求人申请扣押船载货物的价值，应当与其债权数额相当。
第四十六条 海事请求保全扣押船载货物的期限为十五日。
海事请求人在十五日内提起诉讼或者申请仲裁以及在诉讼或者仲裁过程中申请扣押船载货物的，扣押船载货物不受前款规定期限的限制。
第四十七条 船载货物扣押期间届满，被请求人不提供担保，而且货物不宜继续扣押的，海事请求人可以在提起诉讼或者申请仲裁后，向扣押船载货物的海事法院申请拍卖货物。
对无法保管、不易保管或者保管费用可能超过其价值的物品，海事请求人可以申请提前拍卖。
第四十八条 海事法院收到拍卖船载货物的申请后，应当进行审查，在七日内作出准予或者不准予拍卖船载货物的裁定。
当事人对裁定不服的，可以在收到裁定书之日起五日内申请复议一次。海事法院应当在收到复议申请之日起五日内作出复议决定。复议期间停止裁定的执行。
第四十九条 拍卖船载货物由海事法院指定的本院执行人员和聘请的拍卖师组成的拍卖组织实施，或者由海事法院委托的机构实施。
拍卖船载货物，本节没有规定的，参照本章第二节拍卖船舶的有关规定。
第五十条 海事请求人对与海事请求有关的船用燃油、船用物料申请海事请求保全，适用本节规定。
第四章 海事强制令
第五十一条 海事强制令是指海事法院根据海事请求人的申请，为使其合法权益免受侵害，责令被请求人作为或者不作为的强制措施。
第五十二条 当事人在起诉前申请海事强制令，应当向海事纠纷发生地海事法院提出。
第五十三条 海事强制令不受当事人之间关于该海事请求的诉讼管辖协议或者仲裁协议的约束。
第五十四条 海事请求人申请海事强制令，应当向海事法院提交书面申请。申请书应当载明申请理由，并附有关证据。
第五十五条 海事法院受理海事强制令申请，可以责令海事请求人提供担保。海事请求人不提供的，驳回其申请。
第五十六条 作出海事强制令，应当具备下列条件：
（一）请求人有具体的海事请求；
（二）需要纠正被请求人违反法律规定或者合同约定的行为；
（三）情况紧急，不立即作出海事强制令将造成损害或者使损害扩大。
第五十七条 海事法院接受申请后，应当在四十八小时内作出裁定。裁定作出海事强制令的，应当立即执行；对不符合海事强制令条件的，裁定驳回其申请。
第五十八条 当事人对裁定不服的，可以在收到裁定书之日起五日内申请复议一次。海事法院应当在收到复议申请之日起五日内作出复议决定。复议期间不停止裁定的执行。
利害关系人对海事强制令提出异议，海事法院经审查，认为理由成立的，应当裁定撤销海事强制令。
第五十九条 被请求人拒不执行海事强制令的，海事法院可以根据情节轻重处以罚款、拘留；构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。
对个人的罚款金额，为一千元以上三万元以下。对单位的罚款金额，为三万元以上十万元以下。
拘留的期限，为十五日以下。
第六十条 海事请求人申请海事强制令错误的，应当赔偿被请求人或者利害关系人因此所遭受的损失。
第六十一条 海事强制令执行后，有关海事纠纷未进入诉讼或者仲裁程序的，当事人就该海事请求，可以向作出海事强制令的海事法院或者其他有管辖权的海事法院提起诉讼，但当事人之间订有诉讼管辖协议或者仲裁协议的除外。
第五章 海事证据保全
第六十二条 海事证据保全是指海事法院根据海事请求人的申请，对有关海事请求的证据予以提取、保存或者封存的强制措施。
第六十三条 当事人在起诉前申请海事证据保全，应当向被保全的证据所在地海事法院提出。
第六十四条 海事证据保全不受当事人之间关于该海事请求的诉讼管辖协议或者仲裁协议的约束。
第六十五条 海事请求人申请海事证据保全，应当向海事法院提交书面申请。申请书应当载明请求保全的证据、该证据与海事请求的联系、申请理由。
第六十六条 海事法院受理海事证据保全申请，可以责令海事请求人提供担保。海事请求人不提供的，驳回其申请。
第六十七条 采取海事证据保全，应当具备下列条件：
（一）请求人是海事请求的当事人；
（二）请求保全的证据对该海事请求具有证明作用；
（三）被请求人是与请求保全的证据有关的人；
（四）情况紧急，不立即采取证据保全就会使该海事请求的证据灭失或者难以取得。
第六十八条 海事法院接受申请后，应当在四十八小时内作出裁定。裁定采取海事证据保全措施的，应当立即执行；对不符合海事证据保全条件的，裁定驳回其申请。
第六十九条 当事人对裁定不服的，可以在收到裁定书之日起五日内申请复议一次。海事法院应当在收到复议申请之日起五日内作出复议决定。复议期间不停止裁定的执行。被请求人申请复议的理由成立的，应当将保全的证据返还被请求人。
利害关系人对海事证据保全提出异议，海事法院经审查，认为理由成立的，应当裁定撤销海事证据保全；已经执行的，应当将与利害关系人有关的证据返还利害关系人。
第七十条 海事法院进行海事证据保全，根据具体情况，可以对证据予以封存，也可以提取复制件、副本，或者进行拍照、录相，制作节录本、调查笔录等。确有必要的，也可以提取证据原件。
第七十一条 海事请求人申请海事证据保全错误的，应当赔偿被请求人或者利害关系人因此所遭受的损失。
第七十二条 海事证据保全后，有关海事纠纷未进入诉讼或者仲裁程序的，当事人就该海事请求，可以向采取证据保全的海事法院或者其他有管辖权的海事法院提起诉讼，但当事人之间订有诉讼管辖协议或者仲裁协议的除外。
第六章 海事担保
第七十三条 海事担保包括本法规定的海事请求保全、海事强制令、海事证据保全等程序中所涉及的担保。
担保的方式为提供现金或者保证、设置抵押或者质押。
第七十四条 海事请求人的担保应当提交给海事法院；被请求人的担保可以提交给海事法院，也可以提供给海事请求人。
第七十五条 海事请求人提供的担保，其方式、数额由海事法院决定。被请求人提供的担保，其方式、数额由海事请求人和被请求人协商；协商不成的，由海事法院决定。
第七十六条 海事请求人要求被请求人就海事请求保全提供担保的数额，应当与其债权数额相当，但不得超过被保全的财产价值。
海事请求人提供担保的数额，应当相当于因其申请可能给被请求人造成的损失。具体数额由海事法院决定。
第七十七条 担保提供后，提供担保的人有正当理由的，可以向海事法院申请减少、变更或者取消该担保。
第七十八条 海事请求人请求担保的数额过高，造成被请求人损失的，应当承担赔偿责任。
第七十九条 设立海事赔偿责任限制基金和先予执行等程序所涉及的担保，可以参照本章规定。
第七章 送 达
第八十条 海事诉讼法律文书的送达，适用《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》的有关规定，还可以采用下列方式：
（一）向受送达人委托的诉讼代理人送达；
（二）向受送达人在中华人民共和国领域内设立的代表机构、分支机构或者业务代办人送达；
（三）通过能够确认收悉的其他适当方式送达。
有关扣押船舶的法律文书也可以向当事船舶的船长送达。
第八十一条 有义务接受法律文书的人拒绝签收，送达人在送达回证上记明情况，经送达人、见证人签名或者盖章，将法律文书留在其住所或者办公处所的，视为送达。
第八章 审判程序
第一节 审理船舶碰撞案件的规定
第八十二条 原告在起诉时、被告在答辩时，应当如实填写《海事事故调查表》。
第八十三条 海事法院向当事人送达起诉状或者答辩状时，不附送有关证据材料。
第八十四条 当事人应当在开庭审理前完成举证。当事人完成举证并向海事法院出具完成举证说明书后，可以申请查阅有关船舶碰撞的事实证据材料。
第八十五条 当事人不能推翻其在《海事事故调查表》中的陈述和已经完成的举证，但有新的证据，并有充分的理由说明该证据不能在举证期间内提交的除外。
第八十六条 船舶检验、估价应当由国家授权或者其他具有专业资格的机构或者个人承担。非经国家授权或者未取得专业资格的机构或者个人所作的检验或者估价结论，海事法院不予采纳。
第八十七条 海事法院审理船舶碰撞案件，应当在立案后一年内审结。有特殊情况需要延长的，由本院院长批准。
第二节 审理共同海损案件的规定
第八十八条 当事人就共同海损的纠纷，可以协议委托理算机构理算，也可以直接向海事法院提起诉讼。海事法院受理未经理算的共同海损纠纷，可以委托理算机构理算。
第八十九条 理算机构作出的共同海损理算报告，当事人没有提出异议的，可以作为分摊责任的依据；当事人提出异议的，由海事法院决定是否采纳。
第九十条 当事人可以不受因同一海损事故提起的共同海损诉讼程序的影响，就非共同海损损失向责任人提起诉讼。
第九十一条 当事人就同一海损事故向受理共同海损案件的海事法院提起非共同海损的诉讼，以及对共同海损分摊向责任人提起追偿诉讼的，海事法院可以合并审理。
第九十二条 海事法院审理共同海损案件，应当在立案后一年内审结。有特殊情况需要延长的，由本院院长批准。
第三节 海上保险人行使代位请求赔偿权利的规定
第九十三条 因第三人造成保险事故，保险人向被保险人支付保险赔偿后，在保险赔偿范围内可以代位行使被保险人对第三人请求赔偿的权利。
第九十四条 保险人行使代位请求赔偿权利时，被保险人未向造成保险事故的第三人提起诉讼的，保险人应当以自己的名义向该第三人提起诉讼。
第九十五条 保险人行使代位请求赔偿权利时，被保险人已经向造成保险事故的第三人提起诉讼的，保险人可以向受理该案的法院提出变更当事人的请求，代位行使被保险人对第三人请求赔偿的权利。
被保险人取得的保险赔偿不能弥补第三人造成的全部损失的，保险人和被保险人可以作为共同原告向第三人请求赔偿。
第九十六条 保险人依照本法第九十四条、第九十五条的规定提起诉讼或者申请参加诉讼的，应当向受理该案的海事法院提交保险人支付保险赔偿的凭证，以及参加诉讼应当提交的其他文件。
第九十七条 对船舶造成油污损害的赔偿请求，受损害人可以向造成油污损害的船舶所有人提出，也可以直接向承担船舶所有人油污损害责任的保险人或者提供财务保证的其他人提出。
油污损害责任的保险人或者提供财务保证的其他人被起诉的，有权要求造成油污损害的船舶所有人参加诉讼。
第四节 简易程序、督促程序和公示催告程序
第九十八条 海事法院审理事实清楚、权利义务关系明确、争议不大的简单的海事案件，可以适用《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》简易程序的规定。
第九十九条 债权人基于海事事由请求债务人给付金钱或者有价证券，符合《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》有关规定的，可以向有管辖权的海事法院申请支付令。
债务人是外国人、无国籍人、外国企业或者组织，但在中华人民共和国领域内有住所、代表机构或者分支机构并能够送达支付令的，债权人可以向有管辖权的海事法院申请支付令。
第一百条 提单等提货凭证持有人，因提货凭证失控或者灭失，可以向货物所在地海事法院申请公示催告。
第九章 设立海事赔偿责任限制基金程序
第一百零一条 船舶所有人、承租人、经营人、救助人、保险人在发生海事事故后，依法申请责任限制的，可以向海事法院申请设立海事赔偿责任限制基金。
船舶造成油污损害的，船舶所有人及其责任保险人或者提供财务保证的其他人为取得法律规定的责任限制的权利，应当向海事法院设立油污损害的海事赔偿责任限制基金。
设立责任限制基金的申请可以在起诉前或者诉讼中提出，但最迟应当在一审判决作出前提出。
第一百零二条 当事人在起诉前申请设立海事赔偿责任限制基金的，应当向事故发生地、合同履行地或者船舶扣押地海事法院提出。
第一百零三条 设立海事赔偿责任限制基金，不受当事人之间关于诉讼管辖协议或者仲裁协议的约束。
第一百零四条 申请人向海事法院申请设立海事赔偿责任限制基金，应当提交书面申请。申请书应当载明申请设立海事赔偿责任限制基金的数额、理由，以及已知的利害关系人的名称、地址和通讯方法，并附有关证据。
第一百零五条 海事法院受理设立海事赔偿责任限制基金申请后，应当在七日内向已知的利害关系人发出通知，同时通过报纸或者其他新闻媒体发布公告。
通知和公告包括下列内容：
（一）申请人的名称；
（二）申请的事实和理由；
（三）设立海事赔偿责任限制基金事项；
（四）办理债权登记事项；
（五）需要告知的其他事项。
第一百零六条 利害关系人对申请人申请设立海事赔偿责任限制基金有异议的，应当在收到通知之日起七日内或者未收到通知的在公告之日起三十日内，以书面形式向海事法院提出。
海事法院收到利害关系人提出的书面异议后，应当进行审查，在十五日内作出裁定。异议成立的，裁定驳回申请人的申请；异议不成立的，裁定准予申请人设立海事赔偿责任限制基金。
当事人对裁定不服的，可以在收到裁定书之日起七日内提起上诉。第二审人民法院应当在收到上诉状之日起十五日内作出裁定。
第一百零七条 利害关系人在规定的期间内没有提出异议的，海事法院裁定准予申请人设立海事赔偿责任限制基金。
第一百零八条 准予申请人设立海事赔偿责任限制基金的裁定生效后，申请人应当在海事法院设立海事赔偿责任限制基金。
设立海事赔偿责任限制基金可以提供现金，也可以提供经海事法院认可的担保。
海事赔偿责任限制基金的数额，为海事赔偿责任限额和自事故发生之日起至基金设立之日止的利息。以担保方式设立基金的，担保数额为基金数额及其在基金设立期间的利息。
以现金设立基金的，基金到达海事法院指定帐户之日为基金设立之日。以担保设立基金的，海事法院接受担保之日为基金设立之日。
第一百零九条 设立海事赔偿责任限制基金以后，当事人就有关海事纠纷应当向设立海事赔偿责任限制基金的海事法院提起诉讼，但当事人之间订有诉讼管辖协议或者仲裁协议的除外。
第一百一十条 申请人申请设立海事赔偿责任限制基金错误的，应当赔偿利害关系人因此所遭受的损失。
第十章 债权登记与受偿程序
第一百一十一条 海事法院裁定强制拍卖船舶的公告发布后，债权人应当在公告期间，就与被拍卖船舶有关的债权申请登记。公告期间届满不登记的，视为放弃在本次拍卖船舶价款中受偿的权利。
第一百一十二条 海事法院受理设立海事赔偿责任限制基金的公告发布后，债权人应当在公告期间就与特定场合发生的海事事故有关的债权申请登记。公告期间届满不登记的，视为放弃债权。
第一百一十三条 债权人向海事法院申请登记债权的，应当提交书面申请，并提供有关债权证据。
债权证据，包括证明债权的具有法律效力的判决书、裁定书、调解书、仲裁裁决书和公证债权文书，以及其他证明具有海事请求的证据材料。
第一百一十四条 海事法院应当对债权人的申请进行审查，对提供债权证据的，裁定准予登记；对不提供债权证据的，裁定驳回申请。
第一百一十五条 债权人提供证明债权的判决书、裁定书、调解书、仲裁裁决书或者公证债权文书的，海事法院经审查认定上述文书真实合法的，裁定予以确认。
第一百一十六条 债权人提供其他海事请求证据的，应当在办理债权登记以后，在受理债权登记的海事法院提起确权诉讼。当事人之间有仲裁协议的，应当及时申请仲裁。
海事法院对确权诉讼作出的判决、裁定具有法律效力，当事人不得提起上诉。
第一百一十七条 海事法院审理并确认债权后，应当向债权人发出债权人会议通知书，组织召开债权人会议。
第一百一十八条 债权人会议可以协商提出船舶价款或者海事赔偿责任限制基金的分配方案，签订受偿协议。
受偿协议经海事法院裁定认可，具有法律效力。
第一百一十九条 拍卖船舶所得价款及其利息，或者海事赔偿责任限制基金及其利息，应当一并予以分配。
分配船舶价款时，应当由责任人承担的诉讼费用，为保存、拍卖船舶和分配船舶价款产生的费用，以及为债权人的共同利益支付的其他费用，应当从船舶价款中先行拨付。
清偿债务后的余款，应当退还船舶原所有人或者海事赔偿责任限制基金设立人。
关联法规：立法、司法解释（1）条
第十一章 船舶优先权催告程序
第一百二十条 船舶转让时，受让人可以向海事法院申请船舶优先权催告，催促船舶优先权人及时主张权利，消灭该船舶附有的船舶优先权。
关联法规：立法、司法解释（1）条
第一百二十一条 受让人申请船舶优先权催告的，应当向转让船舶交付地或者受让人住所地海事法院提出。
第一百二十二条 申请船舶优先权催告，应当向海事法院提交申请书、船舶转让合同、船舶技术资料等文件。申请书应当载明船舶的名称、申请船舶优先权催告的事实和理由。
第一百二十三条 海事法院在收到申请书以及有关文件后，应当进行审查，在七日内作出准予或者不准予申请的裁定。
受让人对裁定不服的，可以申请复议一次。
第一百二十四条 海事法院在准予申请的裁定生效后，应当通过报纸或者其他新闻媒体发布公告，催促船舶优先权人在催告期间主张船舶优先权。
船舶优先权催告期间为六十日。
第一百二十五条 船舶优先权催告期间，船舶优先权人主张权利的，应当在海事法院办理登记；不主张权利的，视为放弃船舶优先权。
第一百二十六条 船舶优先权催告期间届满，无人主张船舶优先权的，海事法院应当根据当事人的申请作出判决，宣告该转让船舶不附有船舶优先权。判决内容应当公告。
第十二章 附则
第一百二十七条 本法自2000年7月1日起施行。
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