2015年是全面深化改革的关键之年，是全面推进依法治国的开局之年，也是全面完成“十二五”规划的收官之年。虽然世界经济仍处在国际金融危机后的深度调整期，总体复苏疲弱态势尚无明显改观，但随着我国经济发展进入新常态，以及在“一带一路”国家战略实施、自贸区扩容扩围等利好机遇的提振带动下，上海国际航运中心建设继续破浪前行。洋山深水港区迎来开港十周年，高端航运机构加快集聚，航运金融多点开花，航运营商环境持续优化的良好局面。
2015年4月，中国（上海）自由贸易试验区扩围之际，上海海事法院审时度势，在总结已有涉自贸区海事司法经验的基础上，在全国海事法院系统中率先设立了自由贸易试验区法庭。一年来，上海海事法院聚焦自贸区建设与上海国际航运中心建设，把服务保障自贸区建设作为重中之重，以自由贸易试验区法庭为窗口和平台，全面对接“国际化、法治化、市场化”目标，在公正高效解决涉自贸区海事海商纠纷和助力优化自贸区营商环境等方面发挥了积极作用。
本通报将以涉自贸区海事审判为主视角，对上海海事法院2015年依法履行海事审判职能的概要予以回顾。
第一部分上海海事法院2015年审判情况综述
★全年共收案4702件，结案4711件，同比分别上升72.68％和72.00％
★一审收案4013件，结4022件，同比分别上升78.59％和77.73％
★执行案件收689件，结689件，同比均上升44.75%
★各类案件结案标的总额人民币27.47亿元
★当事人主体涉外、涉港澳台案件310件，占全部案件的7.72%
★受理涉中国（上海）自由贸易试验区案件351件（含特别程序案件）
★审结涉船员、船舶类案件552件，同比上升152.05%
★货运代理合同纠纷急剧上升，共受理案件2060件，同比上升116.84%，占一审收案总数的51.33%及海商合同收案总数的63.54％
★派出法庭共收各类案件1310件，结1312件，同比分别上升82.71%和78.02%
★依法扣押船舶33艘，成功拍卖、变卖船舶15艘
一、案件数量
2015年，上海海事法院共受理一审、执行等各类案件4702件，同比上升72.68％；审结、执结案件4711件，同比上升72.00％；存案329件，同比下降2.66%；涉案标的额总计人民币27.47亿元，同比下降26.70％。
其中，院本部共收案3392件，结案3399件；各派出法庭共收案1310件，结案1312件，分别为：自由贸易试验区法庭收案341件，结案321件；洋山深水港派出法庭收案226件，结案246件；连云港派出法庭收案417件，结案418件；洋口港派出法庭收案326件，结案327件。
二、案件类型
海事执行案件共计689件，增幅为44.75%。
三、纠纷解决情况
在审结的3359件一审海事海商案件中，以判决方式结案的539件，占16.05％；以裁定准许原告撤诉或按撤诉处理方式结案的1872件，占55.73％；以调解方式结案的517件，占15.39％；以驳回起诉、移送审理等其他方式结案的431件，占12.83％。
依法扣押船舶33艘。成功拍卖、变卖船舶16艘，成交价款共计人民币2.40亿元，其中14艘通过网络竞价成功拍卖，成交价款达人民币2.07亿元。
四、主要质效指标
一审判决后未上诉的案件3917件，服判息诉率为95.39％。裁判自动履行率达到86.11％。
上诉案件中被二审法院改判8件，改判发回率为6.50％。
个案平均审理天数为41.10天，同比下降13.12天；审限内结案率99.78％，同比上升0.35个百分点。
个案平均执行天数37.83天，同比下降0.72天；执限内结案率100％，同比持平。
第二部分涉自贸区海事海商案件审理情况
为适应自贸区航运发展的现实需要，上海海事法院对涉自贸区海事海商案件采取由自由贸易试验区法庭（以下简称自贸区法庭）为主集中审理的工作模式。
一、涉自贸区海事海商案件概况
受理的351件涉自贸区案件中包括：
实体类案件223件，分别是船员劳务合同纠纷案件103件、海上货运代理合同纠纷案件54件、船舶物料和备品供应合同纠纷案件4件、海上货物运输合同纠纷案件36件、租船合同纠纷案件7件、船舶共有纠纷案件1件、船舶营运借款和抵押合同纠纷案件9件、船舶触碰损害赔偿纠纷案件3件、船舶修理合同纠纷案件1件、船舶建造合同纠纷案件1件、海运集装箱租赁合同纠纷案件1件、港口作业纠纷案件1件、海上人身损害责任纠纷案件1件、海上保险合同纠纷案件1件。
涉自贸区海事执行案件方面，全年共受理申请强制执行案件59件，除去54件涉及船员工资必须通过参与船舶拍卖款分配进行受偿外，实际申请强制执行的仅5件，裁判的自动履行率较高。
二、涉自贸区海事海商案件特点
对上述案件作进一步细化的统计分析，折射出涉自贸区海事海商纠纷现阶段具有以下几个特点：
一是案件增长态势明显，受经济低迷影响明显
虽然2015年上海海事法院受理的涉自贸区海事海商案件达到351件，同比2014年上升幅度高达194.96%，但并不能简单地得出系自贸区扩区和制度创新所引起的结论。一方面，涉自贸区海事海商案件增多是近年来国际海运市场持续低迷的必然结果。当各大航运指数屡创新低时，航运企业长期积累的亏损存在集中释放的压力，无论是出于减少损失还是消化坏账的考虑，将纠纷提交诉讼解决都是必然的选择。比较上海海事法院总体收案从2014年的2723件上升到2015年的4702件，以及其他海事法院受理案件量的大幅上升，也进一步说明了海事海商纠纷量增长是当前的普遍现象，而非自贸区所特有。另一方面，涉自贸区海事海商案件增多与自贸区内个别航运公司因经营状况恶化而集中涉诉有关。如某航运公司为关联企业的贷款提供船舶抵押，后因关联公司部分到期贷款未能偿还，银行起诉关联公司的同时，要求行使船舶抵押权，4艘船舶因此被依法扣押并拍卖，由此引发的连锁案件将近100多件。从该角度来看，2015年涉自贸区海事海商案件大幅增长又有一定偶然性。
二是区域分布差别较大，反映了自贸区片区功能特征
在自贸区扩区后所覆盖的各大片区中，海事案件分布状况相差悬殊。其中洋山保税港区涉案306件，占86.69%；外高桥保税区、外高桥保税物流园区涉案16件，占4.53%；浦东机场综合保税区涉案1件，占0.28%；陆家嘴金融片区涉案15件，占4.25%；金桥片区涉案15件，占4.25%；没有涉张江高科技片区的案件。从上述分布可以清晰地反映出自贸区内的产业分布特征。洋山片区航运企业的集聚程度远远高于其他片区。陆家嘴金融片区的涉案则主要为银行、船舶租赁公司提起的船舶营运借款合同纠纷和船舶融资抵押合同纠纷。
上海海事法院2015年受理的涉自贸区案件的片区分布表
片区
件数
比例
洋山保税港区
306
86.69%
外高桥保税区、外高桥保税物流园区
16
4.53%
浦东机场综合保税区
1
0.28%
陆家嘴金融片区
15
4.25%
金桥片区
张江高科技片区
0
0%
三是涉案企业趋于分散，区内交易活跃度有所提升
根据对2014年119件涉自贸区案件的统计，区内涉案企业相对比较集中。上港、中远、中海三家航运集团旗下均有企业设立于自贸区内，共计涉案58件，占到全部案件的48.74%,其中约四分之三的案件系上述企业作为原告起诉的。在2015年的351件案件中，涉及上述集团公司下属企业的为29件，数量明显下降，其中26件系作为原告起诉的，仅三件作为被告。相应地，自贸区内其他中小航运企业的涉诉数量和比例就呈现出了较大的增长态势。这从一个侧面反映了自贸区航运市场的参与主体日益增多，交易活跃程度有所提升，但另一方面也反映出区内中小航运企业在风险管控和承受能力方面与大型航运集团相比远有不及。因此，在注重自贸区内航运业发展规模的同时，发展质量也应同步跟进。
四是航运金融“一增一少”，揭示航运发展的短板弱项
五是离区经营现象突出，折射出概念化的投资倾向
一、科学设定目标任务，制定海事审判服务自贸区建设工作意见
二、健全专项审判机制，对涉自贸区海事案件实行专业化集中审理
基于自贸区“先行先试”的特殊性，为保证涉自贸区案件的审理质量和专业化水平，早在2013年9月上海自贸区设立之初，上海海事法院就将涉自贸区案件归口到洋山深水港派出法庭审理。2015年4月，上海自贸区扩区后，根据对自贸区海事司法需求增长的预判，上海海事法院在原有基础上设立了全国海事审判系统中的首家自由贸易试验区法庭，对三大类案件实行专业化的集中审理。一是当事人主体注册登记在自贸区的案件；二是纠纷的发生地位于自贸区地域范围内的案件；三是与自贸区特殊监管政策、开放经营业务、重大功能性项目实施等有关的案件。同时，考虑到自贸区内航运融资、航运保险、航运衍生交易等航运金融业的发展前景，上海海事法院还另行设置了航运金融审判合议庭，当航运金融类案件与自贸区案件交叉时，将跨部门组成合议庭进行审理，充分整合两个专业审判机构的经验优势，在确保执法标准统一的同时，促进加快形成完善、明晰、系统的自贸区海事司法裁判规则。
三、创新诉讼便利措施，打造便捷高效的海事纠纷解决通道
四、完善权益实现方式，运用市场机制提升船舶变现偿债能力
长期以来，法院拍卖船舶是通过平面媒体发布拍卖公告，在法院船舶拍卖大厅或其他拍卖场所现场拍卖。近几年来，由于航运市场持续低迷，待拍船舶无人竞价、多次流拍的现象屡屡发生，由此导致船舶看管期间延长、费用增加，船损加大、贬值加速，对债权人和债务人的利益保护均存在不利。为突破传统船舶拍卖方式的局限，上海海事法院将目光投射到市场这个对资源配置具有决定性作用的因素上，与有关产权交易机构合作，运用其网络平台对船舶进行网上拍卖，借助竞拍面广、参与成本低、竞价充分、全程可视的优势，大大提高了船舶拍卖的成功率、成交价和公正性。在此基础上，上海海事法院又进驻淘宝网拍卖平台，进一步扩大网拍范围，也一举取得成功。2015年全年，在船舶市场不景气的不利条件下，上海海事法院通过该方式成功拍卖、变卖船舶16艘，成交额总计21619万元，平均溢价率13%，最高溢价率达到61.2%。
五、发挥海事司法优势，为自贸区法治环境优化和制度创新建言献策
上海国际航运中心建设是加快自贸区建设的重要引擎之一。制定《上海市推进上海国际航运中心建设条例》已被列入上海市人大2015立法计划项目，《条例》草案经向社会公开征求意见，已在市人大进行了一读。上海海事法院作为《条例》的立法领导小组成员单位，全程参与了《条例》的制定工作，积极推进地方立法进程，使法治化、国际化的要求在《条例》中得到进一步的体现。此外，围绕浦东正在大力推进的建设具有国际竞争力的航运保险中心，上海海事法院积极参与浦东新区政府牵头的自贸区框架下航运保险发展法治论证。对于上海自贸区第三批金融创新案例之一的“航运保险产品注册制”试点，上海海事法院通过调研，针对按照注册制产品所订立的保险合同在合同主体关系、合同效力、条款解释等方面需要注意和解决的法律问题，向牵头单位上海市保监局提出建设性的意见，供在该项制度的设计和完善过程中作为参考依据。
六、对接政府管理需求，与市交通委协力加强无船承运市场事中事后监管
七、延伸司法服务功能，及时就政策调整对行业可能产生的影响发出预警提示
八、扩大司法信息共享，打造行为有遵循、结果可预期的自贸区营商环境
一、部分航运市场参与者对“负面清单”管理模式的理解存在误区
“负面清单”管理模式是自贸区扩大开放的一项重要制度创新。由于航运业长期实行比较严格的行政许可，所以当“负面清单”管理模式在自贸区推行后，一些航运企业片面地认为原先需要许可经营的业务已经被放开限制。比较突出地反映在开展无船承运业务方面。根据《中华人民共和国国际海运条例》的规定，开展无船承运业务应当在我国境内依法设立企业法人，向国务院交通主管部门办理提单登记，并交纳保证金。由于实践中违反此项规定的情形时有发生，在《最高人民法院关于审理海上货运代理纠纷案件若干问题的规定》中对违规从事无船承运业务的民事责任专门作出了规定。案件审理中，有的当事人就提出，其是注册登记在自贸区内的企业，在自贸区“负面清单”中并没有对从事无船承运业务的限制性规定，故尽管其没有在交通主管部门进行提单备案和缴纳保证金，也不能认定为违规经营。
二、市场准入放宽背景下个人投资航运业所涉纠纷呈多发态势
三、自贸区航运市场的诚信体系建设有待进一步加强和改善
四、船舶交易过程中的船舶优先权法律风险需引起交易主体足够重视
船舶作为一种特殊的动产，权属关系可以通过登记信息得以公示，但以船员工资为代表的船舶优先权无法查询、随船转移的特点却往往不被船舶买受人所重视，结果可能遭受不必要的损失。比如一家注册于自贸区内的航运企业云港公司购入“港泰92”轮，由于该船在原船舶所有人经营期间拖欠船员工资款，船员向法院提起诉讼，但原船舶所有人已下落不明。根据我国《海商法》的规定，船员工资属船舶优先权，具有随船转移的效力，且船舶优先权应当通过法院扣押船舶的方式行使，船员遂向法院提出扣船申请。云港公司不得不代为承担了几十万元的工资欠款。为避免出现此种局面，法律专门规定了船舶优先权催告程序，经过催告后，未申报的优先权归于消灭。然而，上海海事法院至今没有收到过一起优先权催告申请。
据分析，一方面可能是船舶优先权制度在行业内的知晓度还不够高，需通过加强宣传来加以普及，另一方面也可能是行业主体出于对交易效率的考虑，不愿意等上几个月的催告公告期。有效解决这种交易风险和交易效率的矛盾，无论对自贸区还是国际航运中心，都是吸引船舶交易活跃开展的重要保障。对此，建议可以由保险机构研究推出相应的保险产品，为船舶交易提供低成本的风险分解工具。同时，船舶优先权具有法定种类和一年除斥期间的限制，保险机构通过必要的调查以及合理确定保费、免赔额等措施，也可将自身的损失风险控制在一定范围之内。这或可成为保障船舶交易和促进航运保险创新的双赢之举。
五、航运纠纷解决过程中的知识产权保护意识应得到充分尊重
随着全球经济一体化的深入发展，知识产权已经成为和货物、服务贸易并列的世界贸易三大支柱之一，知识产权与国际贸易、国际航运的交集也因此日益扩大。航运与金融、贸易、投资、知识产权等各领域的发展及其保护状况共同反映了自贸区建设的整体质量。因此，无论是在当事人自行解决航运纠纷过程中还是在法院审理海事案件程序中，对于知识产权保护的理念和行动都应得到充分的尊重。
六、集装箱水水中转运输中的“航线签注”船员管理尚有改进之处
但在一些个案中也反映出在“航线签注”船员的实际能力和跟踪培训方面还有值得改进之处。比如，一起因单船侧翻所引起的索赔案中，数百个国际进口集装箱在中转装船时，因船舶失去平衡而落水并砸损码头。经查，涉案船舶压载水不足，本就存在稳性不足的问题，加之实际配载时，船上当值的大副不会计算船舶稳性，而是根据箱位和港口顺序，凭经验制作配载图。根据《培训考试办法》规定，“集装箱船舶稳性和强度”是高级船员应知应会的内容，但本案中的持证大副却显然缺乏此种能力。之所以如此，可能与《培训考试办法》规定的考试及格分为60分有关，达到及格标准的船员未必一定能够全面掌握应知应会的技能。如果说在洋山深水港开港之初，《培训考试办法》的上述规定不失为一种过渡性的适应之策，那么时至今日，对航线签注船员的培训和考试似应趋于严格为宜。
七、国际集拼业务的发展新模式应被尽快规范和熟知
国际集拼业务历来是世界各大港口的“兵家必争之地”。所谓国际集拼是指境外货物经远洋或近洋运至上海，与内地通过沿海、沿江运至上海港的货物，在海关特殊监管区进行拆箱、分拣，根据不同目的港，同上海本地货源一起重新装箱，再运送出境的港口物流模式。此种模式既能为货方降低出口运输成本，提高出货的灵活性，更是国际航运中心全球运力和货源配置能力的重要体现。
此外，在近年来的海事司法实践中，查询集装箱流转记录已经成为提单持有人主张承运人无单放货的主要举证方式。但需要明确的是，该方式仅适用于整箱交接的集装箱货物，对于拼箱货物并不适用。一些涉及拼箱货的案件中，国内出口方未收到贸易货款就凭集装箱流转记录贸然起诉承运人无单放货，事后往往被证明拆箱后货物仍在承运人掌管之下，为此又额外增加了一笔败诉的成本支出。
八、“互联网航运”交易模式或将成为航运纠纷新的增长点
^~^ShanghaiMaritimeCourtReportonTrails(2015)
Foreword
Theyear2015playedanessentialroleinChina’scommitmenttocomprehensivelydeepeningreformandmarkedthebeginningoftheall-roundpromotionofgovernanceofthecountrybylawandwasthelastyearforcompletingthetargetsoftheTwelfthFive-YearPlan.Althoughtheworldeconomywasstillinadeepcyclicaladjustmentperiodaftertheinternationalfinancialcrisis,andtherewasnonoticeableimprovementinthesituationthatoverallrecoveryoftheeconomywassluggish,asChina'seconomicdevelopmentwalkedintoa"newnormal",anddrivenbysuchfavorablefactorsastheimplementationof"theBeltandRoad"nationalstrategy,expansionofChina(Shanghai)PilotFreeTradeZone,etc.,theconstructionofShanghaiasaninternationalshippingcentercontinued.Theyear2015wasalsothetenthanniversaryofYangshanDeepwaterPort'slaunchofbusinessandayearwhenhigh-endshippingagenciesacceleratedaggregation,theshippingfinanceboomedinnumerousfieldsandthebusinessenvironmentforshippingoperatorscontinuedtobeoptimized.
Inthatprocess,ShanghaiMaritimeCourtfocusedonservingnationalstrategiesandShanghai'sgoalof"innovation-drivendevelopment,economictransformationandupgrading",tooktheinitiativeinadaptingtothenewneedsoftheshippingindustryandotherrelevantindustriesformaritimejudicatureinthecontextofeconomicnewnormal,activelyrespondedtothesignificantincreaseinthenumberofmaritimecasesandthechallengesandtestsarisingfrommoreandmorenewsituationsandnewproblemsthatwereemerging,fullyfulfilleditsjudicialfunctioninmaritimematters,innovatedandimprovedmaritimeadjudicationmechanisms,continuedtoenhanceitsmaritimejudicaturecompetenceandhadproperlyresolvedalargenumberofcasesofdisputesrelatedtotheshippingindustryandrelevantindustrychains.
InApril2015whentheterritoryofChina(Shanghai)PilotFreeTradeZone("FTZ")wasexpanded,aftertakingstockofthesituationandsummarizingitsexistingexperienceinmaritimejudicatureinvolvingtheFTZ,ShanghaiMaritimeCourtestablishedtheTribunalofChina(Shanghai)PilotFreeTradeZone(hereinafterreferredto"theTribunaloftheFTZ"),whichwasthefirstofitskindinthenationalmaritimecourtsystem.Overthepastyear,ShanghaiMaritimeCourthasfocusedontheconstructionoftheFTZandthatofShanghaiasaninternationalshippingcenter,puttheeffortstoserveandsupporttheconstructionoftheFTZonthetoppriority,takentheTribunaloftheFZTasawindowandaplatformforcomprehensivelyaligningwiththetargetsof"internationalization,followingtheprincipleofruleoflawandmarket-orientedgovernance"andplayedapositiveroleinresolvingmaritimedisputesinvolvingtheFTZinanimpartialandhighlyefficientmannerandhelpingtooptimizetheFTZ'sbusinessenvironment.
FromtheperspectiveofFTZ-relatedmaritimeadjudication,thisReportwillreviewthesummarizedhistoryofShanghaiMaritimeCourt'sfulfillingitsfunctioninmaritimeadjudicationbyoperationoflawin2015.
PartIOverviewofCasesConcludedin2015
★Intotal,4702caseswereacceptedbytheCourtin2015and4711caseswereconcluded,representingayear-on-yearincreaseof72.68%and72.00%respectively.
★4013casesoffirstinstancewereacceptedand4022caseswereconcluded,representinganincreaseof78.59%and77.73%respectively.
★689casesofenforcementwereacceptedand689caseswereconcluded,bothrepresentinganincreaseof44.75%.
★TheaggregatevalueofthesubjectmattersinallkindsofconcludedcaseswasRMB2.747billionyuan.
★310casesinvolvingforeignparties(includingpartiesbasedinHongKong,MacauorTaiwan)wereacceptedduringtheyear,accountingfor7.72%ofallthecasesacceptedduringthesameyear.
★351casesinvolvingChina(Shanghai)PilotFreeTradeZone(includingthoseconcludedthroughspecialprocedures)wereacceptedduringtheyear.
★552casesinvolvingseamenandvesselswereconcludedduringtheyear,representingayear-on-yearincreaseof152.05%.
★Disputesovercontractsforcarriageofgoodsrosesharplyin2015.Intotal,2060casesofsuchdisputeswereaccepted,representingayear-on-yearincreaseof116.84%,accountingfor51.33%ofthetotalnumberofcasesacceptedoffirstinstanceand63.54％ofthetotalnumberofmaritimecontactdisputecasesaccepted.
★Intotal,1310caseswereacceptedbythedispatchedtribunalsand1312caseswereconcluded,representingayear-on-yearincreaseof82.71%and78.02%respectively.
★33vesselswerearrestedunderlegalprocess,and15vesselsweresuccessfullyauctionedorsoldoff.
I,NumberofCases
In2015,theCourtacceptedandenforced4,702cases,representingayear-on-yearincreaseof72.68％;4,711caseswereconcludedthroughtrialorenforcement,representingayear-on-yearincreaseof72.00％.Ofthetotal,329casesremainedpending,representingadecreaseof2.66%.TheaggregatevalueofsubjectmattersinvolvedwasRMB2.747billionyuan,representingayear-on-yeardecreaseof26.70%.
TheHeadquartersoftheCourtaccepted3,392casesandconcluded3,399.Thedispatchedtribunalsaccepted1,310casesandconcluded1,312,amongwhichtheDispatchedTribunaloftheFTZaccepted341casesandconcluded321,theDispatchedTribunalofYangshanDeepwaterPortaccepted226casesandconcluded246,theDispatchedTribunalofLianyungangPortaccepted417casesandconcluded418,andtheDispatchedTribunalofYangkouPortaccepted326casesandconcluded327.
II,TypeofCases
Intotal,3,349casesofmaritimedisputeswereacceptedin2015,representinganincreaseof86.78%including409casesofdisputesovercontractsforcarriageofgoodsbyseaoronsea-linkedwaters,2,060casesofdisputesovercontractsforfreightforwardingbyseaoronsea-linkedwaters,40casesofdisputesovercontractsforshiprepairing,building,purchaseandsale,56casesofdisputesoverchartercontracts,43casesofdisputesoverinsurancecontractsarisingontheseaorsea-linkedwaters,29casesofdisputesovershippingfinance(excludinginsurance),480casesofdisputesovercontractsofshipcrew,56casesofdisputesovercontractsofsupplyofvessel’smaterialsandspares,26casesofdisputesovershipcollisions,27casesofdisputesovermaritimepersonalinjuriesordeaths,and123casesofothertypes.
Intotal,664casessubjecttospecialmaritimeprocedureswereaccepted,representinganincreaseof46.26%,including292caseinvolvingapplicationsforestablishmentofafundforlimitationofliabilityformaritimeclaims,269casesinvolvingapplicationsforpre-trialpropertypreservation(including165casesinvolvingapplicationsforarrestingvessels),67casesinvolvingapplicationsforconfirmationoftheeffectivenessofmediationagreements,6casesinvolvingapplicationsformaritimeinjunctions,14casesinvolvingapplicationsformaritimeevidencepreservation,4casesinvolvingapplicationsforadjudicationofdeathofcitizens,4casesinvolvingapplicationsforpublicsummonsforexhortationand8casesrelatingtomaritimearbitration.
In2015,689casesofmaritimeenforcementwereaccepted,representinganincreaseof44.75%.
III,MethodsofSettlement
Amongthe3,359maritimecasesoffirstinstancethatwereconcludedin2015,539caseswereclosedbyhandingdownajudgment,representing16.05％ofthetotal;1,872caseswereclosedthroughthepermittedwithdrawal(ordeemedaswithdrawal)bytheplaintiff,representing55.73％ofthetotal;517caseswereclosedthroughmediation,representing15.39％ofthetotal;and431caseswereclosedbydismissalorothermethods,representing12.83%ofthetotal.
33vesselswerearrestedunderlegalprocess,Ofthose,15vesselsweresuccessfullyauctionedforatotaltransactionvalueofRMB240millionyuan,including13vesselsauctionedthroughonlinebiddingforatotaltransactionvalueofRMB207millionyuan.
IV,QualityandEfficiency
3,917casesoffirstinstancewereconcludedwithoutappeal,representingasatisfactorysettlementrateof95.39%.86.11%oftheawardswereautomaticallyexecutedbythepartiesconcerned.
8appealedcaseswerereversedorrevisedbythecourtofsecondinstance,representingarevision/remandingrateof6.50%.
Theaverageamountofdaysfortrialofacasewas41.10days,representingayear-on-yeardecreaseby13.12days.99.78%ofthecaseswereconcludedwithinthetimelimitoftrial,representingayear-on-yeardropof0.35%.
Theaverageamountofdaysforenforcementofacasewas37.83days,representingayear-on-yeardecreaseby0.72days;100%wereenforcedwithinthetimelimitofenforcement,onaparwiththatoflastyear.
PartIITrailsofMaritimeCasesInvolvingChina(Shanghai)PilotFreeTradeZone
ToadapttotheFTZ'sneedsfordevelopmentoftheshippingbusiness,ShanghaiMaritimeCourthasadoptedtheoperatingmodeinwhichtheTribunaloftheFTZistheforumoftheFTZ-relatedmaritimecases.
Overthepastyear,ShanghaiMaritimeCourthasaccepted351FTZ-relatedmaritimecases(including341casesthatwereacceptedbytheTribunaloftheFTZ),withtheamountofthesubjectmattersinvolvedbeingRMB433millionyuan;and328FTZ-relatedmaritimecaseswereconcluded.Thenumberofcasesacceptedin2015increasedby194.96%asagainstthatacceptedin2014,whichwas119.
The351FTZ-relatedcasesacceptedin2015included:
223casesinvolvingsubstantialmatters,including103casesofdisputesoverseamanlaborcontracts,54casesofdisputesovercontractsforfreightforwardingbysea,4casesofdisputesovercontractsofsupplyofvessel’smaterialsandspares,36casesofdisputesovercontractsforcarriageofgoodsbysea,7casesofdisputesoverchartercontracts,1caseofdisputesovertheco-ownershipofavessel,9casesofdisputesoverloancontractsrelatedtovesselcooperationandcontractsforvesselmortgage,3casesofdisputesovercompensationfordamagecausedbyvesselcollision,1caseofdisputeoveracontractforrepairofvessels,1caseofdisputeoveracontractforbuildingofvessels,1caseofdisputeoveracontractforleasingofmaritimecontainers,1caseofdisputeoverportoperations,1caseofdisputeovercompensationforpersonalinjuriesatseaand1caseofdisputeoveramarineinsurancecontract.
128casessubjecttospecialprocedures,including85casesofapplicationsforregistrationandrepaymentofmaritimeclaims,41casesofapplicationsformaritimepreservation(involving4arrestedvessels),1caseofapplicationforestablishmentofafundforlimitationofliabilityformaritimeclaimsand1caseinvolvingoutsideroppositiontoenforcement.
Amongthe328FTZ-relatedcasesconcluded,therewere200casesinvolvingsubstantialmatters,including101casesthatwereclosedbyhandingdownajudgment,13casesthatwereclosedthroughmediation,85casesthatwerewithdrawnbythepartiesand1casethatwashandedovertothecompetentcourt.
IntermsofmaritimeenforcementcasesinvolvingtheFTZ,59casesofapplicationsforenforcementwereacceptedthroughouttheyear.54casesinvolvedwithcrew’swageswhichmustberecoveredthroughparticipationindistributionoftheproceedsgeneratedfromauctionofvessels,whichindicatesahighproportionoftheawardsthatwereautomaticallyexecutedbythepartiesconcerned.
Throughstatisticalanalysisindetailsoftheforegoingcases,wecanseethatatthisstageFTZ-relatedmaritimedisputeshavethefollowingcharacteristics:
First,thenumberofcasesgrewrapidlyandwassignificantlyaffectedbytheeconomicdownturn
AfterexpansionoftheFTZ,distributionofmaritimecasesacrossmajorsegmentsoftheFTZvariedenormously.Amongthemaritimecases,306casesinvolvedYangshanBondedPort,accountingfor86.69%,16casesinvolvedWaigaoqiaoFreeTradeZoneandWaigaoqiaoBondedLogisticsPark,accountingfor4.53%,1caseinvolvedShanghaiPudongAirportComprehensiveFreeTradeZone,accountingfor0.28%,15casesinvolvedLujiazuiFinanceZone,accountingfor4.25%and15casesinvolvedJinqiaoDevelopmentZone,accountingfor4.25%,butnocaseinvolvedZhangjiangHigh-techZone.ThedistributionofcasesasdescribedaboveclearlyreflectedthecharacteristicsofdistributionofindustriesintheFTZ.AgglomerationofshippingcompaniesinYangshanBondedPortwasmuchhigherthanthatinothersegments.ThecauseofactionofthecasesinvolvedLujiazuiFinanceZoneweremainlythedisputesoverloancontractsforvesseloperationraisedbyvesselsleasingcompaniesandthedisputesovermortgagecontractsforshipfinance.
DistributionofFTZ-relatedcasesacceptedin2015
Segment
Numberofcases
Proportion
YangshanBondedPort
WaigaoqiaoFreeTradeZone,WaigaoqiaoBondedLogisticsPark
ShanghaiPudongAirportComprehensiveFreeTradeZone
LujiazuiFinanceZone
JinqiaoDevelopmentZone
ZhangjiangHigh-techZone
Third,theenterprisesinvolvedinthecasestendedtobedispersed,andtheactivenessoftradewithintheFTZhadraisedtosomeextent
Fourth,shippingfinancesaw"bothincreaseanddecrease",whichrevealsthedrawbacksofdevelopmentoftheshippingbusiness
Fifth,manyenterprisesconductbusinessoffsite,reflectingapropensitytowardsconceptualizationofinvestment
PartIIIEffortsRelatedtoSupportingtheConstructionoftheFTZwithMaritimeJudicialServices
I,SetgoalsandtasksinascientificmannerandissuedaplantoservetheconstructionoftheFTZthroughmaritimetrials
II,ImprovespecialtrialmechanismsandhearFTZ-relatedmaritimecasesinaprofessionalandcentralizedmanner
III,Innovatelitigationfacilitatingmeasuresandbuildaconvenientandhighlyefficientmaritimedisputeresolutionpassage
Ⅳ,Perfectthewaysofrealizingrightsandinterestsandapplymarketmechanismstoraisethelevelofliquidityandsolvencyofships
Ⅴ,Bringthebenefitsofmaritimejudicatureintoplay,andcontributeadviceandrecommendationsforoptimizationoftheFTZ'senvironmentofruleoflawandinstitutionalinnovation
Ⅵ,Alignwiththegovernment'sadministrationneeds,andworkwithShanghaiMunicipalTransportationCommissiontostrengthenin-the-factandafter-the-factregulationoftheNVOCCmarket
Ⅶ,Extendthefunctionsofjudicialservices,andsoundearlywarningsagainsttheimpactchangesinpoliciesmayexertontheshippingindustry
VIII,ExpandthescopeofjudicialinformationsharingtocreateabusinessenvironmentfortheFTZwherecodesofconductwithwhichactionsmustbeinlineareavailableandresultsoftheactionscanbeprojected
PartⅣIssuesReflectedbyFTZ-relatedShippingDisputes
StatisticsshowthatthenumberofFTZ-relatedmaritimecasesacceptedbyShanghaiMaritimeCourtin2015grewconsiderably,whichwastoalargeextentrelatedtotheoverallimpactofinternationalanddomesticshippingsituations,andsomeofthedisputesreflectedtheissuesrelatedtothedevelopmentoftheFTZ'sshippingmarkettowhichattentionshouldbepaid.
I,Someshippingmarketparticipantshavemisunderstandingsaboutthemanagementmodelof"negativelist".
Ⅱ,Inthecontextofrelaxationofmarketaccess,disputesinvolvingindividuals'investmentsintheshippingindustryarisefrequently
Ⅲ,TheconstructionofthecreditsystemintheFTZ'sshippingmarketshouldbefurtherstrengthenedandimproved
Ⅳ,Legalrisksrelatedtomaritimeliensthatareinvolvedinshiptransactionsneedtobepaidenoughattentionbythepartiesconcerned
V,Awarenessofintellectualpropertyrightsprotectioninshippingdisputeresolutionprocessshouldbefullyrespectedfor
Withfurtherdevelopmentofglobaleconomicintegration,intellectualpropertyrightshavebecomeoneofthethreepillarsofworldtradeinparallelwithgoodsandservices,andtheyhavethereforeinterwovenwithinternationaltradeandinternationalshippingthroughthepassageoftime.Thedevelopmentandprotectionofshipping,finance,trade,investment,intellectualpropertyrightsandotherareasreflecttheoverallqualityoftheconstructionoftheFTZ.Therefore,theconceptofandactionsforprotectionofintellectualpropertyshouldbefullyrespectedfor,whetherintheprocessofresolvingshippingdisputesprivatelybythepartiesinvolvedinthedisputesorinthetrialsofmaritimecasespresidedbycourts.
Ⅵ,"Routeendorsement"asacrewmanagementmethodinthecontainerwaterway-waterwaytransitneedstobeimproved
Ⅶ,Internationalconsolidationserviceasanewmodelofdevelopmentshouldbestandardizedandbecomefamiliartopeoplesoonaspossible
Internationalconsolidationservicehasalwaysbeenavitalserviceformajorportsaroundtheworld.Theso-called"consolidationservice"referstoamodeofportlogisticsinwhichoffshorecargoesshippedtoShanghaiwithocean-goingornear-seashippingvesselsandcargoesdeliveredtoShanghaiPortfromMainlandChinaalongthecoastlineorriversareunpackedandsortedwithinspecialcustomssupervisionzones,repackedbydestinationportswithlocalcargoesfromShanghaiandthenshippedoutoftheborder.Thismodelcannotonlyreduceexporttransportationcostsforthebenefitofcargoownersandimprovetheflexibilityinshipment,butalsoisanimportantmanifestationofglobalfreightcapacityandresourcesallocationcapabilityofinternationalshippingcenters.
Inaddition,analysisofthemaritimejudicialpracticeovertherecentyearsshowsthataccesstocontainercirculationrecordshasbecomethemainmethodusedbyB/Lholderswhoclaimthatcarriershavereleasedgoodswithoutdocumentsforpresentingevidence.However,itisnoteworthythatthismethodisonlyapplicabletocontainerizedgoodsdeliveredinFCLbutnottogoodsdeliveredinLCL.InsomecasesinvolvingLCL,carriersweresuedforreleaseofgoodswithoutdocumentsbyrashdomesticexporterswhohadreceivednopaymentsforthegoodsbasedoncontainercirculationrecords.Subsequently,itwasrepeatedlyprovedthattheunpackedgoodshadstillbeenunderthecontrolofthecarriers.Forthisreason,incurringadditionalcostsasaresultoflosingthecaseswasinevitable.
Therefore,inthisinitialstageofdevelopmentoftheinternationalconsolidationserviceinChina(Shanghai)PilotFreeTradeZone,boththeconsignorandthecarrierofashipmentshouldfurtherfamiliarizethemselveswiththedetailsofconsolidationtransportoperation,legalcharacteristicsandboundarybetweenrightsandobligations,therebyensuringthatrelevanttransactionswilldevelopinastandardized,orderlyandhealthymanner.
VIII,Thetransactionmodeof"Internetshipping"mightbecomeanewfactorthatwilltriggermoreshippingdisputesinthefuture