本公约于1910年9月23日在布鲁塞尔召开的第三届海洋法外交会议上通过，1931年3月1日生效。 本条例适用于海上航行，也适用于内河航行。对于遇难的海船、船上财物和客货运费的救助，以及海船和内河船舶相互之间的救助，不论属于任何一种，也不论发生在何种水域，都适用本条例。

统一海上救助若干法律规则的国际公约

简介

本公约于1910年9月23日在布鲁塞尔召开的第三届海洋法外交会议上通过，1931年3月1日生效。

签约国名单略。

全文

第一条　救助服务适用于海上航行，也适用于内河航行

对于遇难的海船、船上财物和客货运费的救助，以及海船和内河船舶相互之间的救助，不论属于任何一种，也不论发生在何种水域，都适用下列规定。

第二条　报酬

凡已取得有益成果的每一项救助活动，都有权获得公平的报酬。

如果所提供的服务并未产生有益的成果，便不应付与报酬。

在任何情况下，所付报酬的金额都不得超过获救财物的价值。

第三条　阻止

虽经被救船舶明白、合理的拒绝但仍参与救助活动的人，无权要求任何报酬。

第四条　拖轮

拖轮对于被拖船舶或该船所载货物的救助，无权要求报酬，除非它已提供不能被认为是履行拖带合同的特殊服务。

第五条　同一船舶所有人的船舶

属于同一船舶所有人的船舶之间的救助，也应给予报酬。

第六条　报酬金额

报酬金额根据当事人协议确定，协议不成，由法院决定。

救助人之间分配报酬的比例，也照此办理。

每一救助船舶的船舶所有人、船长和船上其他工作人员之间对于报酬的分配，按船旗国法律规定办理。

第七条　对协议的修改

在危险期间并在危险影响下订立的任何救助协议，经当事一方请求，如果法院认为协议条件不公平，可以宣告该协议无效，或予以变更。

在任何情况下，如经证明当事一方同意的事项，因有欺诈或隐瞒而归于无效，或所付报酬与救助服务相比，多得过分或少得过分，经受到影响一方的请求，法院可以宣告协议无效，或将该协议加以变更。

第八条　报酬的依据

确定报酬以下列各项为依据，由法院根据具体情况决定：（1）获得效果的程度；救助人的努力与劳绩；被救船舶、所载旅客、船员、货物以及救助人和救助船舶所冒危险；救助工作所用时间、所耗费用和所受损失；救助人所冒责任上的风险和其他风险，以及冒上述风险的财务价值。如果救助船舶具有特殊用途，尚需加以考虑。（2）被救助财产的价值。

前述规定适用于第六条第2款规定的救助报酬的分配。

法院权限：如果由于救助人本身的过失以致必须救助，或者救助人有盗窃、私受盗窃货物或其他欺诈行为，法院得酌减或拒绝同意给予救助报酬。

第九条　获救人员

不得向获救人员索取报酬。但本条规定不得影响国内法在这方面的规定。

人命救助者的报酬份额：在发生海事时参加救助工作的人命救助者，对于船舶、货物及其附属品的救助者所获的报酬，有权取得公平的分配份额。

第十条　诉讼时效

救助报酬请求权时效为两年，自救助行为终止之日起算。

上述时效可以根据受诉法院所引用的法律而告中止或间断。

保留延长时效的权利：各缔约国有权以本国立法规定，如在上述时效期限内，未能在原告住所或主要营业地点所在国家领水内扣留获救船舶，便应将上述时效期限延长。

第十一条　应当施与的救助

对于在海上发现的遭遇生命危险的每一个人，即使是敌人，只要对其船舶、船员和旅客不致造成严重危险，每一船长都必须施救。

船舶所有人对违反前款规定的事项，不承担责任。

第十二条　应提议制定法律

各缔约国的法规如不禁止违反前条规定的行为，便须采取措施，或建议其本国立法机关采取必要措施，以便防止违反上述规定的行为发生。

彼此通知有关的法律：各缔约国应将为履行前款规定而已在其本国颁布或今后拟予颁布的法律或规章，尽速互相通知。

第十三条　公共组织等不受影响

本公约不影响国内法或国际条约中关于由公共机关组织或监督的救助工作的规定，特别是关于渔捞工具的救助规定。

第十四条　军用船舶等

本公约不适用于军用船舶或专门用于公务的政府船舶。

第十五条　各项规定的适用

在救助船舶或被救船舶属于缔约国所有以及在国内法有所规定的情况下，本公约各项规定适用于所有利害关系人，但是：

1．　非缔约国：对于非属缔约国的利害关系人，每一缔约国可在互惠条件下适用本公约的规定。

2．　国内法的适用：如所有利害关系人与受理案件的法院属于同一国家，则应适用国内法，而不适用本公约。

3．　关于第十一条的限制：第十一条的规定，只在缔约国所属船舶之间适用。但这并不妨碍任何国内法对此作出更为广泛的规定。

第十六条　将来的会议

任一缔约国都有权在本公约生效之日起三年后，要求召开新的会议，以便对本公约进行可能的修改，特别是尽可能扩大其适用范围。

通知：行使上述权利的国家，应通过比利时政府将其意图通知其他国家。比利时政府则应安排于六个月内召开此项会议。

第十七条　接纳非加入国

未曾签署本公约的国家，可以申请加入本公约。加入本公约，应通过外交途径通知比利时政府，并由比利时政府通知所有其他缔约国政府。如此加入本公约，应自比利时政府发出通知之日起一个月后生效。

第十八条　批准　关于签字的官方

通知　本公约须经批准

自本公约签字之日起一年内，比利时政府应与已宣布拟行批准本公约的其他缔约国取得联系，以便决定应否使本公约生效。

交存批准书：如已决定使本公约生效，便应将批准书立即交存布鲁塞尔。本公约则于交存批准书一个月后生效。

交存记录对于参加布鲁塞尔会议各国，开放一年。过此期限以后，上述各国仅得依照第十七条规定，参加本公约。

第十九条　退出

如有缔约国欲退出本公约，应自该国通知比利时政府之日起一年后生效，而本公约在其他缔约国之间，仍然有效。

各缔约国全权代表已在本公约上签字盖章，以昭信守。

1910年9月23日订于布鲁塞尔，共一份。

【名称】　CONVENTION FOR THE UNIFICATION OF CERTAIN RULES OF LAW RELATION TOASSISTANCE AND SALVAGE AT SEA, 1910

【题注】

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Article 1

Assistance and salvage of seagoing vessels in danger, of any things on

board, of freight and passage money, and also services of the same nature

rendered by seagoing vessels to vessels of inland navigation or

vice-versa, are subject to the following provisions, without any

distinction being drawn between these two kinds of service (viz.,

assistance and salvage), and in whatever waters the services have been

rendered.

Article 2

Every act of assistance or salvage of which has had a useful result

gives a right to equitable remuneration.

No remuneration is due if the services rendered have no beneficial

result.

In no case shall the sum to be paid exceed the value of the property

salved.

Article 3

Persons who have taken part in salvage operations notwithstanding the

express and reasonable prohibition on the part of the vessel to which the

services were rendered, have no right to any remuneration.

Article 4

A tug has no right to remuneration for assistance to or salvage of the

vessel she is towing or of the vessel's cargo, except where she has

rendered exceptional services which cannot be considered as rendered in

fulfilment of the contract of towage.

Article 5

Remuneration is due notwithstanding that the salvage services has been

rendered by or to vessels belonging to the same owner.

Article 6

The amount of remuneration is fixed by agreement between the parties,

and, failing agreement, by the court.

The proportion in which the remuneration is to be distributed amongst

the salvors is fixed in the same manner.

The apportionment of the remuneration amongst the owner, master and

other persons in the service of each salving vessel shall be determined by

the law of the vessel's flag.

Article 7

Every agreement as to assistance or salvage entered into at the moment

and under the influence of danger may, at the request of either party, be

annulled, or modified by the court, if it considers that the conditions

agreed upon are not equitable.

In all cases, when it is proved that the consent of one of the parties

is vitiated by fraud or concealment, or when the remuneration is, in

proportion to the services rendered, in an excessive degree too large or

too small, the agreement may be annulled or modified by the court at the

request of the party affected.

Article 8

The remuneration is fixed by the court according to the circumstances

of each case, on the basis of the following considerations: (a) firstly,

the measure of success obtained, the efforts and deserts of the salvors,

the danger run by the salved vessel, by her passengers, crew and cargo, by

the salvors, and by the salving vessel; the time expended, the expenses

incurred and losses suffered, and the risks of liability and other risks

run by the salvors, and also the value of the property exposed to such

risks, due regard being had to the special appropriation (if any) of the

salvors' vessel for salvage purposes; (b) secondly, the value of the

property salved.

The same provisions apply for the purpose of fixing the apportionment

provided for by the second paragraph of Article 6.

The court may deprive the salvors of all remuneration, or may award a

reduced remuneration,　if it appears that the salvors have by their fault

rendered the salvage or assistance necessary or have been guilty of theft,

fraudulent concealment, or other acts of fraud.

Article 9

No remuneration is due from persons whose lives are saved, but nothing

in this Article shall affect the provisions of the national laws on this

subject.

Salvors of human life, who have taken part in the services rendered on

the occasion of the accident giving rise to salvage or assistance, are

entitled to a fair share of the remuneration awarded to the salvors of the

vessel, her cargo, and accessories.

Article 10

A salvage action is barred after an interval of two years from the day

on which the operations of assistance or salvage terminate.

The grounds upon which the said period of limitation may be suspended

or interrupted are determined by the law of the court where the case is

tried.

The High Contracting Parties reserve to themselves the right to

provide, by legislation in their respective countries, that the said

period shall be extended in cases where it has not been possible to arrest

the vessel assisted or salved in the territorial waters of the State in

which the plaintiff has his domicile or principal place of business.

Article 11

Every master is bound, so far as he can do so without serious danger

to his vessel, her crew and her passengers, to render assistance to

everybody, even though an enemy, found at sea in danger of being lost.

The owner of a vessel incurs no liability by reason of contravention

of the above provision.

Article 12

The High Contracting Parties, whose legislation does not forbid

infringements of the preceding Article, bind themselves to take or to

propose to their respective Legislatures the measures necessary for the

prevention of such infringements.

The High Contracting Parties will communicate to one another as soon

as possible the laws or regulations which have already been or may be

hereafter promulgated in their States for giving effect to the above

provision.

Article 13

This Convention does not affect the provisions of national laws or

international treaties as regards the organization of services of

assistance and salvage by or under the control of public authorities, nor,

in particular, does it affect such laws or treaties on the subject of the

salvage of fishing gear.

Article 14

This Convention does not apply to ships of war or to Government ships

appropriated exclusively to a public service.

Article 15

The provisions of this Convention shall be applied as regards all

persons interested when either the assisting or salving vessel or the

vessel assisted or salved belongs to a State of the High Contracting

Parties, as well as in any other cases for which the national laws

provide.

Provided always that--

1. As regards persons interested who belong to a non-contracting State

the application of the above provisions may be made by each of the

contracting States conditional upon reciprocity.

2. Where all the persons interested belong to the same State as the

court trying the case,　the provisions of the national law and not of the

Convention are applicable.

3. Without prejudice to any wider provisions of any national laws.

Article 11 only applies as between vessels belonging to the States of the

High Contracting Parties.

Article 16

Any one of the High Contracting Parties shall have the right, three

years after this Convention comes into force, to call for a fresh

Conference with a view to possible amendments,　and particularly with a

view to extend, if possible, the sphere of its application.

Any Power exercising this right must notify its intention to the other

Powers, through the Belgian Government, which will make arrangements for

convening the Conference within six months.

Article 17

States which have not signed the present Convention are allowed to

accede to it at their request. Such accession shall be notified through

the diplomatic channel to the Belgian Government,　and by the latter to

each of the Governments of the other Contracting Parties, it shall become

effective one month after the despatch of such notification by the Belgian

Government.

Article 18

The present Convention shall be ratified.

After an interval of at most one year from the date on which the

Convention is signed,　the Belgian Government shall place itself in

communication with the Governments of the High Contracting Parties which

have declared themselves prepared to ratify the Convention, with a view to

decide whether it should be put into force.

The ratifications shall, if so decided, be deposited forthwith at

Brussels and the Convention shall come into force a month after such

deposit.

The Protocol shall remain open another year in favour of the States

represented at the Brussels Conference. After this interval they can only

accede to it in conformity with the provisions of Article 17.

Article 19

In the case of one or other of the High Contracting Parties denouncing

this Convention,　such denunciation shall not take effect until a year

after the day on which it has been notified to the Belgian Government, and

the Convention shall remain in force as between the other Contracting

Parties.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the plenipotentiaries of the respective High

Contracting Parties have signed this Convention and have affixed thereto

their seals.

DONE AT BRUSSELS, in a single copy, September 23, 1910.