船舶所有人責(zé)任限制公約附英文

1、1957年船舶所有人責(zé)任限制公約簡(jiǎn)介：由于1924年關(guān)于統(tǒng)一海運(yùn)船舶所有人責(zé)任限制若干法律規(guī)定的國(guó)際公約采用的是“并用制度”，同時(shí)，還存在著其他一些方面的不足，因而始終未能被大多數(shù)海運(yùn)國(guó)家所接受。在這種背景下，國(guó)際海事委員會(huì)于1955年在馬德里起草了一個(gè)新公約，即1957年船舶所有人責(zé)任限制公約，并于1957年10月10日在布魯塞爾第十屆海洋法外交會(huì)議上通過(guò)，1968年5月31日生效。至今已有近50個(gè)參加國(guó)，是國(guó)際上有關(guān)責(zé)任限制方面第一個(gè)生效的國(guó)際公約。公約采用事故制度，即責(zé)任限制不以航次為標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，而以事故次數(shù)為標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，一次事故一個(gè)限額。采用單一的金額制，并以金法郎作為計(jì)算單位。對(duì)于用于計(jì)算責(zé)任限

2、額的船舶噸位作了特殊規(guī)定，即“公約噸”，是指凈噸加上為確定凈噸而從總噸中減去的機(jī)艙所占空間。1979年12月，受金價(jià)波動(dòng)的影響，國(guó)際上通過(guò)了修改1957年船舶所有人責(zé)任限制公約的議定書(shū)，將其中規(guī)定的法郎改為“特別提款權(quán)”，相應(yīng)的比值為1000金法郎約等于66.67特別提款權(quán)。其議定書(shū)，1979年12月21日通過(guò)于布魯塞爾，并于1984年10月6日生效。截至2007年9月，參加國(guó)為：阿爾及利亞、澳大利亞、巴哈馬群島、巴巴多斯、比利時(shí)、伯里茲、中國(guó)、中國(guó)澳門(mén)、丹麥、多末尼加島、埃及、斐濟(jì)、芬蘭、法國(guó)、德國(guó)、迦納、格林納達(dá)島、圭亞那、冰島、印度、伊朗、以色列、日本、基里巴斯、黎巴嫩、馬達(dá)加斯加、毛里

3、求斯、摩納哥、荷蘭、阿魯巴島、挪威、巴布亞新幾內(nèi)亞、波蘭、葡萄牙、圣盧西亞島、圣文森特和格林納丁斯、塞舌爾、新加坡、所羅門(mén)群島、西班牙、瑞典、瑞士、阿拉伯?dāng)⒗麃喒埠蛧?guó)、湯加、圖瓦盧、阿拉伯聯(lián)合共和國(guó)、英國(guó)、曼島、百慕大群島、英屬南極地方、?？颂m群島、直布羅陀、英屬維爾京群島、格恩西和澤西、開(kāi)曼群島、蒙特塞拉特島、特克斯和凱科斯群島、瓦努阿圖、扎伊爾。正文：1957年船舶所有人責(zé)任限制的國(guó)際公約第一條1海船舶所有人由于下列事故所引起的請(qǐng)求，除引起請(qǐng)求的事故是出于船舶所有人的實(shí)際過(guò)失或私謀以外，都可以根據(jù)本規(guī)則第三條限制其責(zé)任。上述事故是：（1）船上所裁的任何人的死亡或人身傷害，以及船上任何財(cái)物的

4、滅失或損害。（2）由于應(yīng)由船舶所有人對(duì)其行為、疏忽或過(guò)失負(fù)責(zé)的在船上或不在船上的任何人的行為、疏忽或過(guò)失所引起的陸上或水上任何其他人的死亡或人身傷害，任何其他財(cái)產(chǎn)的滅失或損害，或任何權(quán)利的侵犯。但對(duì)于后一種人的行為、疏忽或過(guò)失，船舶所有人僅在其行為、疏忽或過(guò)失是在駕駛或管理船舶時(shí)，或在貨物裝船、運(yùn)輸或卸船，以及在旅客上船、乘船或上岸時(shí)發(fā)生，才有權(quán)限制其責(zé)任。（3）與清除船舶殘骸有關(guān)的法律所加于和由于或有關(guān)浮起、清除或毀壞任何沉沒(méi)、擱淺或被棄船舶（包括船上任何物件）而發(fā)生的任何義務(wù)或責(zé)任，以及由于對(duì)港口工程、港池或航道所造成的損害引起的任何義務(wù)與責(zé)任。2在本公約中，“人身請(qǐng)求”是指由于死亡或人身

5、傷害而發(fā)生的請(qǐng)求；“財(cái)物請(qǐng)求”是指本條第1款所述以外的一切其他請(qǐng)求。3在本條第1款所述情況下，即使其責(zé)任是由于他對(duì)船舶具有所有權(quán)、占有權(quán)、保管權(quán)或控制權(quán)而發(fā)生的，而在船舶所有人方面，或在船舶所有人應(yīng)對(duì)其行為負(fù)責(zé)的一些人方面，并無(wú)疏忽行為證明，船舶所有人亦應(yīng)有限制其責(zé)任的權(quán)利。4本條不適用于：（1）救助方面的請(qǐng)求或共同海損分擔(dān)的請(qǐng)求。（2）船長(zhǎng)、船員、船舶所有人所雇在船上的任何雇傭人員，或船舶所有人所雇其職務(wù)與船舶有關(guān)的雇傭人員提出的請(qǐng)求：包括其繼承人、私人代表或家屬的請(qǐng)求在內(nèi)。如果對(duì)于這類(lèi)請(qǐng)求，根據(jù)船舶所有人與上述雇傭人員之間的服務(wù)契約所適用的法律，船舶所有人不得限制其責(zé)任；或根據(jù)這種法律，只

6、能以較本公約第三條所訂者為高的金額限制其責(zé)任。5如船舶所有人有權(quán)就同一事件向請(qǐng)求人提出請(qǐng)求，雙方提出的請(qǐng)求應(yīng)相互抵銷(xiāo)，而本公約的規(guī)定只適用于其中的差額（如有）。6對(duì)于引起請(qǐng)求事故，是否由于船舶所有人的實(shí)際過(guò)失或私謀所引起的舉證責(zé)任問(wèn)題，須根據(jù)法庭第法決定。7要求責(zé)任限制的行為，并不構(gòu)成對(duì)于責(zé)任的承認(rèn)。第二條1本公約第三條所規(guī)定的責(zé)任限制，應(yīng)適用于在任何個(gè)別場(chǎng)合發(fā)生的人身請(qǐng)求和財(cái)產(chǎn)請(qǐng)求的總額，但對(duì)于在任何其他個(gè)別場(chǎng)合已經(jīng)發(fā)生或可能發(fā)生的任何請(qǐng)求，不考慮在內(nèi)。2當(dāng)在任何個(gè)別場(chǎng)合發(fā)生的請(qǐng)求總額，超過(guò)第三條規(guī)定的責(zé)任限額時(shí)，可將代表這項(xiàng)限額的總數(shù)，作為一項(xiàng)單獨(dú)的限額基金。3如此設(shè)立的基金，只能用以支付

7、與能夠要求責(zé)任限制有關(guān)的請(qǐng)求。4基金設(shè)立以后，如該限額基金確為請(qǐng)求人的利益所用，請(qǐng)求人不得就其對(duì)該項(xiàng)基金的請(qǐng)求，對(duì)船舶所有人所有任何其他財(cái)產(chǎn)，行使任何權(quán)利。第三條1船舶所有人根據(jù)第一條規(guī)定，可以限制其責(zé)任的金額為：（1）如事故只引起人身財(cái)產(chǎn)請(qǐng)求，按船舶噸位計(jì)算，每噸賠償總額為1，000法郎。（2）如事故只引起請(qǐng)求，按船舶噸位計(jì)算，每噸賠償總額為3，100法郎。（3）如事故既引起人身請(qǐng)求，又引起財(cái)物請(qǐng)求，則按船舶噸位計(jì)算，每噸賠償總額為3，100法郎，其中第一部分以每噸2，100法郎計(jì)算的款項(xiàng)，應(yīng)專(zhuān)門(mén)用于支付人身請(qǐng)求，而第二部分以每噸1，000法郎計(jì)算的款項(xiàng)，則用于支付財(cái)物請(qǐng)求。但如第一部分款項(xiàng)

8、不足以支付全部人身請(qǐng)求，這種請(qǐng)求的未付差額，應(yīng)與財(cái)物請(qǐng)求按比例排列，以第二部分基金支付。2對(duì)于每一部分限額基金，應(yīng)按照已經(jīng)成立的請(qǐng)求數(shù)額比例，分配給請(qǐng)求人。3如在分配基金以前，船舶所有人對(duì)于第一條第1款所述任何請(qǐng)求，已經(jīng)支付全部或一部分款項(xiàng)，則對(duì)該項(xiàng)基金來(lái)說(shuō)，該船舶所有人應(yīng)按比例安排在已由其償付的請(qǐng)求人相同的地位，參加分配，但其數(shù)額僅以由其償付的請(qǐng)求人，根據(jù)基金所在國(guó)國(guó)內(nèi)法有權(quán)向他要求償還的數(shù)額為限。4如船舶所有人提出，他對(duì)于第一條第1款所述請(qǐng)求的全部或一部分款項(xiàng)，將在日后被強(qiáng)制支付，基金所在國(guó)的法院或其他主管當(dāng)局，得發(fā)布命令，將一筆足夠的款項(xiàng)暫時(shí)存放，以便船舶所有人能在日后按前款所述方式，應(yīng)

9、該項(xiàng)基金滿(mǎn)足他的請(qǐng)求。5為了按照本條規(guī)定確定船舶所有人限額，不足300噸的船舶應(yīng)為300噸。6本條所述法郎，應(yīng)視為指含655毫克9001000的純金的貨幣單位而言。本條第一款所述的數(shù)額，應(yīng)在要求限制其責(zé)任的國(guó)家，按船舶所有人設(shè)立限額基金、支付款項(xiàng)提出根據(jù)該國(guó)法律等于支付款額的保證的日期，根據(jù)上述貨幣單位的價(jià)值折合為該國(guó)貨幣。7本公約所述船舶噸位應(yīng)按下列方式計(jì)算：對(duì)于蒸汽機(jī)船或其他機(jī)動(dòng)船舶，應(yīng)采用凈噸，加上為確定凈噸而從總噸中減去的機(jī)艙所占空間。對(duì)于其余一切船舶，應(yīng)采用凈噸。第四條在不妨礙本公約第三條第二款的條件下，關(guān)于設(shè)立和分配限額基金的規(guī)則，以及一切程序規(guī)則，應(yīng)受基金所在國(guó)家的法律約束。第五

10、條1當(dāng)船舶所有人有權(quán)根據(jù)本公約限制其責(zé)任，而其所擁有的船舶或另一艘船舶或其他財(cái)產(chǎn)，已在一個(gè)締約國(guó)管轄區(qū)域內(nèi)被扣，或?yàn)楸苊獗豢垡呀?jīng)提出保證金或其他擔(dān)保，如能確定該船舶所有人已經(jīng)提出充分保證金或保全，其數(shù)額相等于他在本公約規(guī)定下所應(yīng)承擔(dān)的全部責(zé)任限額，而這樣提出的保證或其他保全，對(duì)于請(qǐng)求人的利益，按照其應(yīng)享的權(quán)利，又真實(shí)有用，則該締約國(guó)的法庭或其他主管部門(mén)得下令將上述船舶或其他財(cái)產(chǎn)，或所提出的保全發(fā)還。2在本公約第一款所述情況下，如已在下列港口提交保證金或其他保全，則該法院或其他主管機(jī)關(guān)應(yīng)根據(jù)本條第一款所述條件，下令放還船舶、保證金或其他保全。這些港口是：（1）引起請(qǐng)求的事故發(fā)生的港口；（2）如事

11、故不在港內(nèi)發(fā)生，則為事故發(fā)生后的第一個(gè)停泊港；（3）如果請(qǐng)求是人身請(qǐng)求，或有關(guān)貨物損害的請(qǐng)求，則為旅客上岸港或卸貨港；3如已經(jīng)提出的保證金或其他保全的數(shù)額，少于本公約所規(guī)定的全部責(zé)任限額，在對(duì)其差額提出充分的保證金或其他保全的情況下，本條第1、2款的規(guī)定同樣適用。4如船舶所有人已提交相等于其在本公約規(guī)定下的全部責(zé)任限額的保證金或其他保全，這種保證金或其他保全，應(yīng)用以支付在一個(gè)特定場(chǎng)合發(fā)生的一切請(qǐng)求，而船舶的有人得在這方面限制制其責(zé)任。5關(guān)于根據(jù)本公約規(guī)定提起訴訟的程序和起訴時(shí)效問(wèn)題，應(yīng)根據(jù)訴訟所在締約國(guó)的國(guó)內(nèi)法決定。第六條1在本公約內(nèi)，船舶所有人的責(zé)任，包托船舶本身的責(zé)任在內(nèi)。2除本條第3款另

12、有規(guī)定外，本公約的條款應(yīng)與適用于船舶所有人本身同樣，適用于船舶的承租人，經(jīng)理人和營(yíng)運(yùn)人，以及船長(zhǎng)、船員和為船舶所有人、承租人、經(jīng)理人或營(yíng)運(yùn)人服務(wù)的其他雇傭人員；但對(duì)發(fā)生于一個(gè)特定場(chǎng)合的人身請(qǐng)求和財(cái)物請(qǐng)求，船舶所有人和上述一切其他人員的責(zé)任限額總數(shù)，不得超過(guò)根據(jù)本公約第三條所確定的金額。3對(duì)船長(zhǎng)或船員提起訴訟時(shí)，即使引起索賠的事故是由于其中一人或數(shù)人的實(shí)際過(guò)失或私謀而發(fā)生，他們亦可限制其責(zé)任。但如船長(zhǎng)或船員同時(shí)是船舶的所有人、共有人、承租人、經(jīng)理人和營(yíng)運(yùn)人，則僅在其行為、疏忽或過(guò)失是該有關(guān)人員以該船舶長(zhǎng)或船員身份做出時(shí)，才能適用本款規(guī)定。第七條當(dāng)船舶所有人或根據(jù)第六條規(guī)定具有與船舶所有人相同權(quán)利

13、的任何人，在一個(gè)締約國(guó)的法庭上限制或要求限制責(zé)任，或要求放還被扣船舶或其他財(cái)產(chǎn)，或在該國(guó)管轄區(qū)域內(nèi)提交的保證金或其他保全時(shí)，本公約應(yīng)予適用。但每一締約國(guó)對(duì)于任何非締約國(guó)，或根據(jù)第五條規(guī)定要求限制其責(zé)任，或放還其被扣船舶或其他財(cái)產(chǎn)，或其提交的保證金或其他保全時(shí)，不經(jīng)常住在某一締約國(guó)或在某一締約國(guó)內(nèi)設(shè)有主要營(yíng)業(yè)所的任何人，或要求限制其責(zé)任或?qū)⑵溽尫牛谏鲜銎陂g未懸掛締約國(guó)國(guó)旗的任何船舶，都有權(quán)剝奪其根據(jù)本公約應(yīng)享有全部或一部分權(quán)益。第八條各締約國(guó)保留確定某種其他類(lèi)型船舶得與海船同樣適用本公約的權(quán)利。第九條本公約應(yīng)由出席第十屆海洋法外交會(huì)議各國(guó)簽字。第十條本公約須經(jīng)批準(zhǔn)。批準(zhǔn)文件應(yīng)送交比利時(shí)政府保

14、存，并由比利時(shí)政府通過(guò)外交途徑，將各批準(zhǔn)書(shū)的收存情況通知所有簽字國(guó)和參加國(guó)。第十一條1本公約應(yīng)自至少收到十份批準(zhǔn)書(shū)之日起六個(gè)月后生效。在這些批準(zhǔn)書(shū)中，至少應(yīng)有五份系由擁有100萬(wàn)或100萬(wàn)總噸以上船舶的國(guó)家所交存。2在本條第1款所規(guī)定決定公約生效的批準(zhǔn)書(shū)收存之日以后，對(duì)于批準(zhǔn)本公約的每一簽字國(guó)，本公約應(yīng)自其批準(zhǔn)書(shū)交存六個(gè)月后生效。第十二條未參加第十屆海洋法外交會(huì)議的國(guó)家，都可以參加本公約，表示加入的文件應(yīng)交比利時(shí)政府保存，并由比利時(shí)政府將這項(xiàng)文件的交存情況，通過(guò)外交途徑通知各簽字國(guó)和參加國(guó)。對(duì)于參加國(guó)，本公約應(yīng)自該國(guó)交存加入文件之日起六個(gè)月后生效，但生效日期不是早于第十一條第1款所規(guī)定的公約生

15、效日期。第十三條每一締約國(guó)都有權(quán)在本公約對(duì)該國(guó)生效以后的任何時(shí)期退出本公約，但這種退出僅在自比利時(shí)政府收到退出本公約通知之日起一年后，方為有效。比利時(shí)政府應(yīng)通過(guò)外交途徑將此項(xiàng)通知告知所有簽字國(guó)和參加國(guó)。第十四條1任何締約國(guó)都可以在其批準(zhǔn)或加入本公約當(dāng)時(shí)或此后任何時(shí)期，以送交比利時(shí)政府的書(shū)面聲明宣布，本公約的適用范圍擴(kuò)大至在國(guó)際關(guān)系方面由其負(fù)責(zé)的任何領(lǐng)土，本公約的適用范圍即應(yīng)自比利時(shí)政府收到該項(xiàng)通知之日6個(gè)月以后擴(kuò)大至通知中所述領(lǐng)土，但不得早于本公約對(duì)該國(guó)生效的日期。2根據(jù)本條第1款宣布將本公約的適用范圍擴(kuò)大至國(guó)際關(guān)系方面由其負(fù)責(zé)的領(lǐng)土的締約國(guó)，得在此后任何時(shí)期通過(guò)送交比利時(shí)政府的通知，宣布本公

16、約不再擴(kuò)大適用于上述領(lǐng)土。這種退出應(yīng)自比利時(shí)政府收到上述通知之日起一年后生效。3比利時(shí)政府應(yīng)通過(guò)外交途徑，將其收到本條所述通知的情況告知所有簽字國(guó)和參加國(guó)。第十五條任何締約國(guó)都可以在本公約對(duì)該國(guó)生效三年后此后任何時(shí)期，要求召集會(huì)議，以便考慮對(duì)本公約進(jìn)行修改。欲行使這一權(quán)利的任何締約國(guó)，應(yīng)將此事通知比利時(shí)政府，比利時(shí)政府應(yīng)于此后6個(gè)月內(nèi)召集會(huì)議。第十六條在批準(zhǔn)或加入本公約各國(guó)之間，本公約應(yīng)代替并廢除1924年8月25日在布魯塞爾簽署的統(tǒng)一海船舶所有人責(zé)任限制的若干規(guī)定的國(guó)際公約。經(jīng)正式授權(quán)的各全權(quán)代表特簽署本公約，以昭信守。本公約于1957年10月10日在布魯塞爾簽訂，正本一份，用英文和法文寫(xiě)成

17、，兩種文本具有同等效力。公約正本存于比利時(shí)政府檔案庫(kù)，經(jīng)過(guò)核正無(wú)差的副本由比利時(shí)政府分發(fā)INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION RELATING TO THE LIMITATION OF THE LIABILITY OF OWNERS OF SEA-GOING SHIPS, AND PROTOCOL OF SIGNATURE(Brussels, 10 October 1957)THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES, HAVING RECOGNISED the desirability of determining by agreement certain unif

18、orm rules relating to the limitation of the liability of owners of sea-going ships; HAVE DECIDED to conclude a Convention for this purpose, and thereto have agreed as follows: Article 1(1) The owner of a sea-going ship may limit his liability in accordance with Article 3 of this Convention in respec

19、t of claims arising from any of the following occurrences, unless the occurrence giving rise to the claim resulted from the actual fault or privity of the owner: (a) loss of life of, or personal injury to, any person being carried in the ship, and loss of, or damage to, any property on board the shi

20、p; (b) loss of life of, or personal injury to, any other person, whether on land or on water, loss of or damage to any other property or infringement of any rights caused by the act, neglect or default of any person on board the ship for whose act, neglect or default the owner is responsible or any

21、person not on board the ship for whose act, neglect or default the owner is responsible: Provided however that in regard to the act, neglect or default of this last class of person, the owner shall only be entitled to limit his liability when the act, neglect or default is one which occurs in the na

22、vigation or the management of the ship or in the loading, carriage or discharge of its cargo or in the embarkation, carriage or disembarkation of its passengers; (c) any obligation or liability imposed by any law relating to the removal of wreck and arising from or in connection with the raising, re

23、moval or destruction of any ship which is sunk, stranded or abandoned (including anything which may be on board such ship) and any obligation or liability arising out of damage caused to harbour works, basins and navigable waterways. (2) In the present Convention the expression "personal claims

24、" means claims resulting from loss of life and personal injury; the expression "property claims" means all other claims set out in paragraph 1 of this Article. (3) An owner shall be entitled to limit his liability in the cases set out in paragraph (1) of this Article even in cases whe

25、re his liability arises, without proof of negligence on the part of the owner or of persons for whose conduct he is responsible, by reason of his ownership, possession, custody or control of the ship. (4) Nothing in this Article shall apply: (a) to claims for salvage or to claims for contribution in

26、 general average; (b) to claims by the Master, by members of the crew, by any servants of the owner on board the ship or by servants of the owner whose duties are connected with the ship, including the claims of their heirs, personal representatives or dependents, if under the law governing the cont

27、ract of service between the owner and such servants the owner is not entitled to limit his liability in respect of such claims or if he is by such law only permitted to limit his liability to an amount greater than that provided for in Article 3 of this Convention. (5) If the owner of a ship is enti

28、tled to make a claim against a claimant arising out of the same occurrence, their respective claims shall be set off against each other and the provisions of this Convention shall only apply to the balance, if any. (6) The question upon whom lies the burden of proving whether or not the occurrence g

29、iving rise to the claim resulted from the actual fault or privity of the owner shall be determined by the lex fori. (7) The act of invoking limitation of liability shall not constitute an admission of liability. Article 2(1) The limit of liability prescribed by Article 3 of this Convention shall app

30、ly to the aggregate of personal claims and property claims which arise on any distinct occasion without regard to any claims which have arisen or may arise on any other distinct occasion. (2) When the aggregate of the claims which arise on any distinct occasion exceeds the limits of liability provid

31、ed for by Article 3 the total sum representing such limits of liability may be constituted as one distinct limitation fund. (3) The fund thus constituted shall be available only for the payment of claims in respect of which limitation of liability can be invoked. (4) After the fund has been constitu

32、ted, no claimant against the fund shall be entitled to exercise any right against any other assets of the shipowner in respect of his claim against the fund, if the limitation fund is actually available for the benefit of the claimant. Article 3(1) The amounts to which the owner of a ship may limit

33、his liability under Article 1 shall be: (a) where the occurrence has only given rise to property claims an aggregate amount of 1,000 francs for each ton of the ship's tonnage; (b) where the occurrence has only given rise to personal claims an aggregate amount of 3,100 francs for each ton of the

34、ship's tonnage; (c) where the occurrence has given rise both to personal claims and property claims an aggregate amount of 3,100 francs for each ton of the ship's tonnage, of which a first portion amounting to 2,100 francs for each ton of the ship's tonnage shall be exclusively appropria

35、ted to the payment of personal claims and of which a second portion amounting to 1,000 francs for each ton of the ship's tonnage shall be appropriated to the payment of property claims: Provided however that in cases where the first portion is insufficient to pay the personal claims in full, the

36、 unpaid balance of such claims shall rank rateably with the property claims for payment against the second portion of the fund. (2) In each portion of the limitation fund the distribution among the claimants shall be made in proportion to the amounts of their established claims. (3) If before the fu

37、nd is distributed the owner has paid in whole or in part any of the claims set out in Article 1 paragraph (1), he shall pro tanto be placed in the same position in relation to the fund as the claimant whose claim he has paid, but only to the extent that the claimant whose claim he has paid would hav

38、e had a right of recovery against him under the national law of the State where the fund has been constituted. (4) Where the shipowner establishes that he may at a later date be compelled to pay in whole or in part any of the claims set out in Article 1 paragraph (1) the Court or other competent aut

39、hority of the State where the fund has been constituted may order that a sufficient sum shall be provisionally set aside to enable the shipowner at such later date to enforce his claim against the fund in the manner set out in the preceding paragraph. (5) For the purpose of ascertaining the limit of

40、 an owner's liability in accordance with the provisions of this Article the tonnage of a ship of less than 300 tons shall be deemed to be 300 tons. (6) The franc mentioned in this Article shall be deemed to refer to a unit consisting of sixty five and a half milligrams of gold of millesimal fine

41、ness nine hundred. The amounts mentioned in paragraph (1) of this Article shall be converted into the national currency of the State in which limitation is sought on the basis of the value of that currency by reference to the unit defined above at the date on which the shipowner shall have constitut

42、ed the limitation fund, made the payment or given a guarantee which under the law of that State is equivalent to such payment. (7) For the purpose of this convention tonnage shall be calculated as follows: - in the case of steamships or other mechanically propelled ships there shall be taken the net

43、 tonnage with the addition of the amount deducted from the gross tonnage on account of engine room space for the purpose of ascertaining the net tonnage; - in the case of all other ships there shall be taken the net tonnage. Article 4Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 3, paragraph (2) of

44、 this Convention, the rules relating to the constitution and distribution of the limitation fund, if any, and all rules of procedure shall be governed by the national law of the State in which the fund is constituted. Article 5(1) Whenever a shipowner is entitled to limit his liability under this Co

45、nvention, and the ship or another ship or other property in the same ownership has been arrested within the jurisdiction of a Contracting State or bail or other security has been given to avoid arrest, the Court or other competent authority of such State may order the release of the ship or other pr

46、operty or of the security given if it is established that the shipowner has already given satisfactory bail or security in a sum equal to the full limit of his liability under this Convention and that the bail or other security so given is actually available for the benefit of the claimant in accord

47、ance with his rights. (2) Where, in circumstances mentioned in paragraph (1) of this Article, bail or other security has already been given: (a) at the port where the accident giving rise to the claim occurred; (b) at the first port of call after the accident if the accident did not occur in a port;

48、 (c) at the port of disembarkation or discharge if the claim is a personal claim or relates to damage to cargo; the Court or other competent authority shall order the release of the ship or the bail or other security given, subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (1) of this Article. (3) Th

49、e provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Article shall apply likewise if the bail or other security already given is in a sum less than the full limit of liability under this Convention: Provided that satisfactory bail or other security is given for the balance. (4) When the shipowner has give

50、n bail or other security in a sum equal to the full limit of his liability under this Convention such bail or other security shall be available for the payment of all claims arising on a distinct occasion and in respect of which the shipowner may limit his liability. (5) Questions of procedure relat

51、ing to actions brought under the provisions of this Convention and also the time limit within which such actions shall be brought or prosecuted shall be decided in accordance with the national law of the Contracting State in which the action takes place. Article 6(1) In this Convention the liability

52、 of the shipowner includes the liability of the ship herself. (2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this Article, the provisions of this Convention shall apply to the charterer, manager and operator of the ship, and to the master, members of the crew and other servants of the owner, charterer, manager or

53、operator acting in the course of their employment, in the same way as they apply to an owner himself: Provided that the total limits of liability of the owner and all such other persons in respect of personal claims and property claims arising on a distinct occasion shall not exceed the amounts dete

54、rmined in accordance with Article 3 of this Convention. (3) When actions are brought against the master or against members of the crew such persons may limit their liability even if the occurrence which gives rise to the claims resulted from the actual fault or privity of one or more of such persons

55、. If, however, the master or member of the crew is at the same time the owner, co-owner, charterer, manager or operator of the ship the provisions of this paragraph shall only apply where the act, neglect or default in question is an act, neglect or default committed by the person in question in his

56、 capacity as master or as member of the crew of the ship. Article 7This Convention shall apply whenever the owner of a ship, or any other person having by virtue of the provisions of Article 6 hereof the same rights as an owner of a ship, limits or seeks to limit his liability before the Court of a

57、Contracting State or seeks to procure the release of a ship or other property arrested or the bail or other security given within the jurisdiction of any such State. Nevertheless, each Contracting State shall have the right to exclude, wholly or partially, from the benefits of this Convention any no

58、n-Contracting State, or any person who, at the time when he seeks to limit his liability or to secure the release of a ship or other property arrested or the bail or other security in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 hereof, is not ordinarily resident in a Contracting State, or does not h

59、ave his principal place of business in a Contracting State, or any ship in respect of which limitation of liability or release is sought which does not at the time specified above fly the flag of a Contracting State. Article 8Each Contracting State reserves the right to decide what other classes of ship shall be treated in