2011年10月14日 星期五

試析「船舶貨物裝卸承攬契約」之重要條款(伍)

玖、【責任、補償與責任限制(Liability, Indemnity and Limitation of Liability)】(續):
(建議條文五):
Customer’s Liabilities and Indemnity:
Without prejudice to:
- remedies for specific performance of any obligation under this Agreement; and,
- rights of termination expressly set out in this Agreement,

The remedy of the Contractor in respect of any act or omission or negligence or breach/default of the Customer or any of the Customer’s sub-contractors and agent under or connected to this Agreement shall, with the exception of personal injury to or death of third parties or any willful acts and misconduct, be for damages(s) in contract and in lieu of (and not cumulative with) any other rights in tort.

(a) The Contractor shall notify the Customer without under delay upon becoming aware or any matter which gives rise to or may give rise to a claim for loss or damage(s) including injury or death under this Agreement stating in reasonable detail the nature of the matter and claim, and so far as practicable, the amount claimed.
(b) The Customer shall be liable for and shall indemnify the Contractor against any liability for claims or legal actions of any kind, including costs and expenses incidental thereto, in respect of:
(i) loss or damage to property of any person including that of the Contractor; and,
(ii) personal injury or death to persons.
caused, in each case, by the breach/default or negligence of the Customer, its agent or sub-contractors.
(譯文):
客戶的責任與補償:
在不影響本約攸關責任履行所生的補償,與終止權的情況下,因為客戶、其次承攬人,與代理人的作為、不作為、過失或違約行為造成碼頭公司損失的補償責任,將祇限於契約上所載的損失,而不包括或累計其他因為侵權行為所得主張的權利(對於第三者所造成的人身傷亡,或因為客戶的故意失當行為,則不在此限)。

(a) 碼頭公司應該於知悉毀損或滅失事件發生或可能發生的情況下,立即通知客戶攸關事件的本質與可能會索賠的金額(包括人身傷亡的部分)。
(b) 客戶應對碼頭公司因為(i)財產的滅失或毀損,及(ii)人員傷亡等事件所產生的索賠或訴訟案件,負擔起補償的責任(包括附屬的費用與支出)。

以上每一情況的發生均係因為客戶、代理人,或次承攬人的違約或過失所造成的。

(建議條文六):
The maximum liability of the Customer to the Contractor in relation to each incident shall:
in the case of loss or damage of whatever kind to property be limited to twenty million US Dollars (USD20,000,000); and
in the case of personal injury or death be limited to one million US Dollars (USD1,000,000) per person.
(譯文):
針對每一事件,客戶對於碼頭公司所負的最大責任為:
財產的毀損或滅失限制在美金2千萬元,及
人員的傷亡限制在每個人美金1百萬元。

(建議條文七):
The limitation(s) of liability per incident set out in the above mentioned shall relate to the whole of any losses and/or damages which may arise upon any one distinct occasion, although such losses and/or damages may be sustained by more than one person, and shall apply whether the liability arises at common law or by statute and notwithstanding such common law or anything contained in such statute.

Any liabilities of the Customer to the Contractor under this Agreement shall be limited and/or exempted as follows:

(a) In respect of any claim of the Contractor governed by an applicable international convention or mandatory national law governing the liability of owners and/or charterers (including without limitation charterers of slots) and/or operators and/or managers of ships and/or contractual carriers, or as may be limited by the Customer’s Bill of Lading, to the amount applicable or apportioned as a result of the invocation of a limitation of liability or any defense, exemption or exclusion from liability including by establishment of a limitation fund under such convention, law or Bill of Lading;
(b) The Contractor shall make no claim against the Customer for an amount less than US$500 (five hundred United States dollars) per incident or series of incidents arising from a common cause; and
(c) Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, in no circumstances shall the Customer be liable to the Contractor for any indirect or consequential loss or damages incurred or suffered by the Contractor including but not limited to loss of business, loss of earnings or profits.
(譯文):
前開條款中每一事件的責任限額,均與每一單一個案所產生的毀損及(或)滅失有關,雖然毀損(或)滅失可能會影響不止一個人,亦會適用普通法或成文法攸關的責任規定(不論普通法或成文法的規定如何)。

凡本約中客戶對於碼頭公司所負的責任,將會依以下規定限制及(或)排除之:

(a) 碼頭公司依照國際公約或國家強制法令規範船東、傭船人(包括但不限於艙位租用)、船舶營運人、管理人,及(或)契約運送人部分所為的索賠,或受限於客戶提單條款,將因責任限制條款的適用、責任的抗辯、免除或排除(包括因前開公約、法令或提單所成立的責任基金),而受限於適用或分攤的額度。
(b) 凡因一般原因所造成的單一事件或一連串事件的賠償金額,少於美金500元者,碼頭公司同意不向客戶進行索賠。
(c) 除非本約另有明文規定外,碼頭公司對於任何間接性或結果性的滅失或毀損,包括但不限於商業上的損失、營業上或利潤上的損失等,不得向客戶請求賠償。

(建議條文八):
In the event any claim is made against the Contractor by any third party in connection with the performance of the Container Terminal Services, the Customer shall indemnify the Contractor in respect of liability, loss or damage (including all reasonable legal fees) arising out of any such third party’s claim, but only to the extent that such liability, loss or damage is caused by a negligent act, fault or omission of the Customer.
(譯文):
假設有第三人因貨櫃碼頭服務的提供而向碼頭公司求償的話,則客戶同意對此負擔補償的責任(包括合理的法律費用),但祇限於前開責任、毀損或滅失,係導因於客戶本身的過失、過錯或失誤的行為。

(建議條文九):
In case of any claim for loss, damage or injury/death, the Contractor shall without undue delay notify the Customer of any such claim which the Contractor considers to have been caused by the Customer and shall take such action and give such information and assistance, as the Customer may reasonably request.
(譯文):
遇有任何滅失、毀損或傷亡的索賠,碼頭公司如果認為係因客戶所導致的結果,應立即通知客戶,暨在客戶合理要求下採取措施與提供資訊與協助。

(建議條文十):
Mitigation: Notwithstanding any other provision herein, both the Contractor and the Customer shall, at all times, take all reasonable steps to minimize and mitigate any loss, damage and/or costs and expenses for which the relevant Party is entitled to bring a claim against the other pursuant to this Agreement.
(譯文):
限縮:不論本約其他規定,碼頭公司與客戶兩者均應隨時採取合理的步驟,來減輕或限縮彼此得依約求償的任何滅失、毀損,及(或)費用與支出。

(說明):
如同前述,這裡的「責任、補償與責任限制」條款,可以說是「船舶貨物裝卸承攬契約」中最重要,且最具關鍵性的部分,在談完「碼頭公司應該負的責任與補償」部分之後,即談及「客戶的責任與補償」部分。兩相比較,兩者間的責任與補償有其共通之處,譬如說:均祇對於「違約責任」負責(the Breach of Contract),而不觸及到所謂「侵權責任」的問題(the Tort)(當然除非因客戶的故意失當行為,造成第三者的人身傷亡,始有「侵權行為」的問題)。另,客戶對於所謂「間接性損害」或「結果性」的滅失或毀損,亦明白表示毋庸負責。與「碼頭公司」的責任相同,在這裡「客戶」亦明白放棄對於小額案件的索賠(即少於美金500元的損害案件)。

除此之外,客戶對於碼頭公司應負的責任限額,亦明文訂定在美金2千萬元(財損部分),與美金1百萬元(每人)(人身傷亡的部分)之內。客戶若因國際公約或自行出具的提單條款,享有任何責任限制的特權時,則碼頭公司要求亦得比照援引。

拾、【求償通知(Claim Notification)】:
(建議條文):
(a) Either Party must without undue delay notify the other of an event which customarily a survey of loss or damage.
(b) The Customer shall not be entitled to pursue a direct claim against the Contractor under the terms of this Agreement unless the Customer has notified the Contractor of the claim not later than six (6) months after becoming aware of the event or occurrence giving rise to the direct claim, and shall have brought a formal claim or commenced formal proceedings in respect of the direct claim not later than twelve (12) months after becoming aware the event or occurrence giving rise to the direct claim, unless prior extension has been requested and granted.
(c) In respect of any claim or action arising under or connected with any indemnity in favor of the Customer contained in this Agreement, the Customer shall:
(i) within six (6) months of becoming aware of the claim or action against it, notify the Contractor in writing of the claim or action (the “Customer Indemnity”) against which the Customer is seeking to be indemnified together with all details of the Customer Indemnity in the actual knowledge or possession of the Customer at the time and becoming known to it at any time thereafter;
(ii) where the Customer Indemnity relates to a claim or action by any third party against the Customer, upon written request of the Contractor, permit the Contractor to take over the defense of such third party claim or action, provided always that it is reasonably possible and does not prejudice the Customer and that all costs of defense are borne by the Contractor.
(譯文):
(a) 任何一方遇有需要調查毀損或滅失情況時,應毫不遲疑地立即通知他方。
(b) 假若客戶未能於知悉事件發生後的6個月內向碼頭公司提出索賠,12個月內正式提出訴訟,除非前開期限有經提出延期並獲得許可,否則客戶即無法依約向碼頭公司直接求償。
(c) 任何依約有利於客戶的索賠或求償,客戶應該
(i) 於知悉後6個月內書面通知碼頭公司,據實以告所有詳細內容,並負責隨時補充之(此稱之為「客戶的補償」);
(ii) 當前開「客戶的補償」係有關於第三者對於客戶的索賠或求償時,則在合理可能且不影響客戶的情況下(所有抗辯費用的支出均由碼頭公司負責),應碼頭公司的書面要求,客戶允許碼頭公司負責對於此一第三者的抗辯事宜。

(說明):
「索賠通知」在某種程度上係屬於關鍵位置,足以影響到權利人的請求權行使。就以一般的貨損索賠為例,台灣的海商法第56條第1項規定:「貨物一經有受領權利人受領,推定運送人已依照載貨證券之記載,交清貨物。但有下列情事之一者,不在此限:一、…二、…三、毀損滅失不顯著而於提貨後3日內,以書面通知運送人者。…」,換句話說,貨物受領權利人若未能於提貨後3日內,以書面通知的方式通知運送人攸關貨物毀損滅失的情況,則未來縱在貨物受領之日或自應受領之日起1年內起訴者,亦喪失其貨損請求權矣。

在本契約中,客戶若未能於知悉事件發生後的6個月內,向碼頭公司提出索賠通知者,除非雙方另有協議延長期限,否則客戶即無法依約向碼頭公司直接聲請賠償事宜(待續)。

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