航次承租人的海事赔偿责任限制主体资格研究

Research on the Qualification of Voyage Charterers as Subjects of Maritime Liability Limitation

摘要: 《中华人民共和国海商法》对于航次承租人是否属于船舶承租人，能否适用海事赔偿责任限制制度规定不明，而修订草案214条中又将航次承租人排除在责任限制之外，并且司法实践也存在同案不同判的情况，对于航次承租人的海事赔偿责任限制主体资格研究具有现实和理论意义。从立法背景来看，海事赔偿责任限制制度从保护船舶所有人逐步扩展至多元主体，航次承租人不能因租期或合同性质被简单排除。从法律性质来看，航次承租人在合同类型、义务履行、合同订立等方面与定期承租人有相似性，且在船舶租赁市场中地位重要，应被视为船舶承租人。从法律解释来看，《1976年公约》的文义、体系、历史解释均支持航次承租人属责任限制主体；《海商法》下航次租船合同性质虽有争议，但“混合合同说”渐成主流，转租时航次承租人应享有责任限制权利。实践中，学界“船舶所有权说”与“船舶经营说”判定标准存在局限，应以“是否承担海上风险并享有船舶利益”重构标准，转租时航次承租人应享受责任限制。鉴于此，建议修订《海商法》相关条款，明确符合特定情形的航次承租人的责任限制主体资格，以统一司法裁判、促进航运业发展。

Abstract: The Maritime Code of the People’s Republic of China is unclear regarding whether a voyage charterer belongs to a ship charterer and can apply the maritime liability limitation system. In Article 214 of the revised draft, voyage charterers are excluded from liability limitation. Moreover, there are situations of different judgments for the same case in judicial practice. Therefore, researching the qualification of voyage charterers as subjects of maritime liability limitation has practical and theoretical significance. From the perspective of the legislative background, the maritime liability limitation system has gradually expanded from protecting shipowners to multiple subjects. Voyage charterers should not be simply excluded due to the term of the lease or the nature of the contract. In terms of legal nature, voyage charterers have similarities with time charterers in aspects such as contract types, performance of obligations, and contract conclusion. Also, they play an important role in the ship leasing market and should be regarded as ship charterers. From the perspective of legal interpretation, the literal, systematic, and historical interpretations of the 1976 Convention all support that voyage charterers are subjects of liability limitation. Although the nature of the voyage charter party under the Maritime Code is controversial, the “mixed contract theory” is gradually becoming the mainstream. Voyage charterers should enjoy the right to liability limitation when subleasing. In practice, the judgment criteria of the academic “ship ownership theory” and “ship operation theory” have limitations. The standard should be reconstructed based on “whether to bear maritime risks and enjoy ship benefits”. Voyage charterers should enjoy liability limitation when subleasing. In view of this, it is recommended to revise the relevant provisions of the Maritime Code to clarify the qualification of voyage charterers as subjects of liability limitation under specific circumstances, so as to unify judicial judgments and promote the development of the shipping industry.