BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) — The third draft revision of the Maritime Code will be submitted to the 18th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress for deliberation. Wang Xiang, spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, stated at a press conference on the 23rd that the third draft revision intends to add relevant countermeasure clauses.
Wang said that in June 2025, the 16th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress conducted a second deliberation on the draft revision of the Maritime Code. Based on opinions from various parties, the third draft revision proposes the following main amendments: first, adding provisions on querying the registration status of ship ownership; second, improving the rules for the order of repayment of ship mortgages; third, adding provisions requiring timely notification to the shipper when no one takes delivery at the port of discharge; fourth, deleting the presumptive rules for carrier identification; and fifth, adding relevant countermeasure clauses, etc.
Wang pointed out that preventing and managing ship oil pollution and protecting the marine ecological environment require the joint efforts of countries worldwide. In this regard, the international community has formed a series of conventions, and China primarily participates in the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage and the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage. This revision of the Maritime Code adds a chapter on liability for ship oil pollution damage. Combining China’s years of practical experience and mature practices in the maritime field, it stipulates systems such as the scope of compensation for ship oil pollution damage, liability assumption and exemptions, the oil pollution damage liability insurance system and fund system, and limits of liability for oil pollution damage. This not only responds to and provides guarantees at the institutional level for China’s further advancement of marine ecological civilization construction but also implements the main systems and obligations of the international conventions in which China participates. (End)
