DECISION OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINACONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MARITIME ARBITRATION COMMISSION WITH INTHE CHINA COUNCIL FOR THE PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE

DECISION OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINACONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MARITIME ARBITRATION COMMISSION WITH INTHE CHINA COUNCIL FOR THE PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE This English document is coming from the "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7) which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China Legal System Publishing House.

In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.

Whole Document DECISION OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MARITIME ARBITRATION COMMISSION WITH IN THE CHINA COUNCIL FOR THE PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE (Adopted at the 82nd Meeting of the State Council on November 21, 1958) With a view to settling maritime disputes through arbitration, it is necessary to set up an arbitral body within a relevant social organization. It is hereby decided as follows: 1. There shall be established within the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade a Maritime Arbitration Commission to settle: a. disputes over the remuneration for salvage services rendered by sea- going vessels to each other or by a sea-going vessel to a river craft or vice versa; b. disputes arising from collisions between sea-going vessels or between sea-going vessels and river craft or from damages caused by sea-going vessels to harbour structures or installations; c. disputes arising from chartering sea-going vessels, agency services rendered to sea-going vessels, carriage by sea in virtue of contracts of affreightment, bills of lading or other shipping documents, as well as disputes arising from marine insurance.

2. The Maritime Arbitration Commission takes cognizance of maritime disputes in accordance with the relevant contracts, agreements and or other documents concluded between the disputing parties either prior or subsequent to the occurrence of disputes. The Maritime Arbitration Commission may endeavour to settle through mediation any dispute of which it has taken cognizance.

3. The Maritime Arbitration Commission shall be composed of 21-31 members to be selected and appointed by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade for a term of two years from among persons having special knowledge in navigation, sea transportation, foreign trade, insurance and law.

4. The Maritime Arbitration Commission shall elect a Chairman and 1-3 Vice-Chairmen from among its members.

5. When a dispute is submitted for arbitration, the disputing parties shall each choose an arbitrator from among the members of the Maritime Arbitration Commission. The arbitrators so chosen shall jointly select from among the members of the Maritime Arbitration Commission a presiding arbitrator to form, in association with the arbitrators, an Arbitration Tribunal to act in a body. The disputing parties may also jointly choose from among the members of the Maritime Arbitration Commission a sole arbitrator to form by himself a Tribunal to act singly.

The disputing parties shall choose the arbitrators within the time fixed by the Maritime Arbitration Commission or agreed upon between the parties, and the arbitrators so chosen shall also select the presiding arbitrator within the time fixed by the Maritime Arbitration Commission. If one of the parties fails to choose an arbitrator within the prescribed time limit, the Chairman of the Maritime Arbitration Commission shall then, upon the request of the other party, appoint the arbitrator for the former party. If the arbitrators so chosen or appointed cannot agree upon the choice of the presiding arbitrator within the prescribed time limit, the Chairman of the Maritime Arbitration Commission shall then select a presiding arbitrator for them.

6. Either of the parties in dispute may authorize the Maritime Arbitration Commission to choose for him an arbitrator who shall, jointly with the arbitrator chosen by the other party, select a presiding arbitrator to form, in association with the arbitrators, an Arbitration Tribunal to act in a body. If, by mutual agreement, both parties jointly delegate the choice of arbitrators to the Maritime Arbitration Commission, the Chairman of the Maritime Arbitration Commission, may appoint a sole arbitrator to form by himself a Tribunal to act singly.

7. The disputing parties may appoint attorneys to protect their interests during the proceedings of a case before the Maritime Arbitration Commission.

Such attorneys may be citizens of the People's Republic of China or foreign citizens.

8. In cases within the cognizance of the Maritime Arbitration Commission, the Chairman of the Maritime Arbitration Commission may make decisions in respect of measures of security and determine the amount and form of the security for the claim. Upon the request of one of the parties, the People's Court of the People's Republic of China shall enforce the decision referred to in the preceding paragraph in accordance with the law.

9. The Maritime Arbitration Commission may collect an arbitration fee not exceeding two per cent of the amount of the claim.

10. The award handed down by the Maritime Arbitration Commission is final and neither party shall bring an appeal for revision before a court of law or any other organization.

11. The award by the Maritime Arbitration Commission shall be executed by the parties themselves within the time fixed by the award. In case an award is not executed after the expiration of the fixed time, the People's Court of the People's Republic of China shall, upon the request of one of the parties, enforce it in accordance with the law.

12. Rules concerning the Procedure of Arbitration shall be formulated by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

Note: On June 21, 1988, the State Council renamed the Maritime Arbitration Commission as the China Maritime Arbitration Commission, and agreed that the rules of arbitration procedure shall be amended. - The Editor.