壹、【前言】:
船舶運送貨物到港之後,勢必要與碼頭經營業者訂定契約,以進行貨物的裝卸作業,而契約中除了一般費率與作業效率等商業條款的約定之外,其實還有許多條款,譬如說:責任條款以釐清碼頭公司的責任,與賠償限額的適用問題等等,值得契約當事人的留心與注意。若能夠在實際作業履行雙方權義之前,即得針對可能會發生的爭議問題,協議出一雙方均得認同的解決方式者,乃是「船舶貨物裝卸承攬契約」所欲達成的最主要目的。
本文擬就「船舶貨物裝卸承攬契約」常見的重要條款做一剖析,以供「船舶運送人」暨「碼頭經營業者」在磋商與訂定契約時的參考。
貳、【契約效力所及的範圍(Scope of Agreement)】:
(建議條文一):
The Contractor shall, throughout the Term, provide the Container Terminal Services, together with such other services as may be required by the Customer and agreed by Contractor from time to time, in or around the Port. The Contractor shall, unless otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, provide the Container Terminal Services in an efficient, economical and prudent manner, in accordance with sound operating practices and applicable law and regulations.
(譯文):
在本約效期內,碼頭公司應在指定港口內或附近,提供客戶所需「貨櫃碼頭服務」暨雙方得隨時同意的其他服務。除本約另有規定外,則碼頭公司應就「貨櫃碼頭服務」,依業界慣例與適用的法令,以謹慎的態度提供一有效率、符合經濟需求的服務。
(說明):
本文中所謂的「貨櫃碼頭服務」(the Container Terminal Services),其實係一「定義」的條款,而在定義中針對此一名詞的說明則為「碼頭公司依本約的規定,所提供予客戶的服務及(或)設施,包括雙方得隨時同意所加入的其他服務在內」(means the services and/or facilities to be provided at the Container Terminal to the Customer as set out in the Agreement including all such other services which may be agreed between the Parties from time to time)。然本文的重點應該著重在碼頭公司的履約態度,簡言之其乃係依照所謂一「謹慎合理的人」來履行本約的義務,故其注意義務應該比一般人及處理自己事務的注意程度要來得高。另,除此之外,碼頭公司的履約亦應依照法令及所謂業界的慣行為之。祇是何謂「業界的慣行」則為一不確定的「概念」,有待進一步的事實蒐證來支持此一觀念的說法,自不待言。
(建議條文二):
This Agreement shall apply to all Customer Container Ships and Customer Containers and Cargo entering, remaining in or leaving the Container Terminal. Notwithstanding this, from time to time should any Customer Containers and Cargo enter, remain in or leave the Container Terminal while subject a third party’s management where operation is performed for and/or services provided to or on behalf of such third party and regulated under a separate agreement between such third party and Contractor, this Agreement shall not apply to such Customer Containers, Cargo and operation or provision of services.
(譯文):
客戶的貨櫃船、貨櫃,及貨物在進、出,或停留在碼頭時,即應適用本約的規定。雖然如此,當客戶的貨櫃船、貨櫃,及貨物在進、出,或停留在碼頭的作業,係委託第三者且在其名下處理時,而該第三者與碼頭公司亦另簽有契約的場合之下,本約將不適用在前開客戶貨櫃、貨物及攸關服務上面。
(說明):
雖然船舶、貨櫃與貨物均為客戶所有或經營,但相關的運作與操控,該客戶均委託第三者全權處理(包括以第三者的名義代為之),爰縱然船舶、貨櫃與貨物的進出或停留均在該碼頭之內,但仍不成為本契約的「適用客體」,而反應該適用第三者與碼頭公司已經簽訂的「船舶貨物裝卸承攬契約」的攸關規定才是。故關鍵所在,乃取決於這些「客體」是否已由客戶委託第三者全權處理,且該第三者與碼頭公司是否另行簽有「船舶貨物裝卸承攬契約」為斷。
參、【集團簽署條款(Group Contracting Clause)】:
(建議條文一):
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Contractor shall upon request of any company or entity in the Customer’s Group enter into an agreement to provide the Container Terminal Services and/or such other services as may be agreed on terms no less favorable to such company or entity than the terms of this Agreement, as amended from time to time.
(譯文):
雖然本約中或有其他相反的規定,但碼頭公司在客戶同一集團的其他公司的請求下,仍同意以不劣於本約條件的情況下,提供「貨櫃碼頭服務」及(或)雙方所同意的其他服務予這些同一集團公司。
(建議條文二):
If this Agreement requires the Contractor to give priority to any vessel or cargo, the corresponding provision in an agreement under the preceding clause shall require priority only so far as there is no conflict with vessels and cargoes provided by this Agreement.
(譯文):
如果碼頭公司依據本約需對若干船舶或貨物提供優先服務的時候,則依前開規定所訂定契約的相關對應條款,祇有在不影響本約所涵蓋船舶與貨物的情況下提供優先服務。
(建議條文三):
If this Agreement provides for rates, services or service levels to vary according to the volume or services required or performed, the relevant volume shall be determined by aggregation with volumes under all other related contracts. A related contract is one under which the Contractor, its parent, subsidiary, affiliated or associated company provides Container Terminal Services and/or any similar services and/or other services agreed to a company or entity whilst it is in the Customer’s Group.
(譯文):
本約依服務所提供的數量來取決費率、服務,或服務水平,而前開數量的計算則取決於所有「其他攸關契約」數量的加總。所謂「其他攸關契約」係指碼頭公司、其母公司、子公司、分公司或附屬公司,提供「貨櫃碼頭服務」、其他類似服務,及(或)其他雙方所同意的服務予客戶同一集團的其他公司。
(說明):
「船舶貨物裝卸承攬契約」的簽約主體,雖然僅為「客戶」這一家代表簽署而已,但本條款卻將契約的適用範圍(當然包括所有的商業條件)擴大到與「客戶」同一集團的其他公司身上,可謂是所謂「One Size Fits All」的模式,爰對於同屬「客戶」於相同集團的公司,可謂是一大「利多」措施,蓋其他公司即毋庸再歷經一番激戰,就可以享有同集團公司與碼頭公司磋商之後的結果。更甚者,「客戶」亦爭取在計算「數量優惠」(volume incentive)的時候,必須將同屬集團的其他公司所貢獻的「貨量」整合計算,可謂將「集合集團整體力量與資源,以取得最大優惠」的概念推到了極致。從務實的角度言之,此舉可算是策略管理上的一大良策,頗值得具備某種規模的集團公司列為學習的教材。祇不過在同時間使用碼頭公司所提供服務的集團公司遇有「衝突」時,條款中也明白訂定,應該以代表簽約的「客戶」的次序為最優先提供服務的對象。
肆、【次承攬人(Sub-contractors)】:
(建議條文):
The Contractor may sub-contract the performance of the Container Terminal Services or any part thereof, but any sub-contracting shall in no way relieve the Contractor or any of its obligations under this Agreement and the Contractor shall remain responsible for any sub-contractor and its performance. The Contractor shall ensure that any such sub-contractors comply with and observe the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if they were an original party to this Agreement, in particular, but in no way limited to, the obligations of confidentiality provided herein below.
(譯文):
碼頭公司得將「貨櫃碼頭服務」的全部或一部,次承攬(或稱之為「再委任」)予他人提供,但任何「次承攬」並不免除碼頭公司在本約中的責任,碼頭公司仍應該對次承欖人的所作所為負起責任。碼頭公司必須確保前開次承攬人均能夠依約履行義務,就如同次承欖人自己即為本約的原始簽約主體般,特別(但不限於)是對於「保密條款」的遵守。
(說明):
「船舶貨物裝卸承攬契約」原則上並不禁止碼頭公司得將其中的履行責任與義務,轉予他人為之。可見業界對於此一部分的履行義務,並不是那麼特別注重契約履行人的身分與(或)其專業技能。惟在義務的履行可以委託他人為之的情況下,本契約仍要求碼頭公司必須對次承攬人的所作所為負擔起最後的責任(至於賠償完後,碼頭公司再依其與次承攬人間的內部協議要求補償,自不在話下),此舉對於「客戶」而言,可謂是已經獲得到權益的保障。除此之外,本契約亦賦予碼頭公司必須要求次承攬人確實遵守契約履行的義務,而其中對於「保密條款」的遵守部分,則特別挑出來明定為重點執行項目。
伍、【碼頭公司的地位(Position of Containers)】:
(建議條文一):
The Contractor shall be an independent contractor and provider and shall not in any way be entitled to bind or commit the Customer. Neither the Customer nor the Contractor shall be deemed an agent of the other hereunder and the Contractor shall in no respect be regarded as, or construed to be, an employee of the Customer.
(譯文):
碼頭公司係一獨立的契約履行者與服務的提供者,其無權拘束客戶或讓客戶做出任何承諾。客戶與碼頭公司不得相互視為係對方的代理,且碼頭公司絕不能被視為或推定為係客戶的受僱人。
(建議條文二):
Nothing in this Agreement shall give rise to, nor be construed as, constituting a partnership or joint venture for any purpose between the Contractor and the Customer.
(譯文):
本約斷無解釋或推定碼頭公司與客戶兩者間,有構成「合夥」或「聯盟」關係的理由。
(建議條文三):
Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Customer, the Contractor shall not appear in court, arbitration or mediation or reply to any notice of claim on behalf of the Customer or accept service of summons, writs or any other notice of claim or legal proceedings on behalf of the Customer, and shall immediately inform the Customer thereof, should the Contractor receive any such summons, writ or other notice of claim or legal proceedings.
(譯文):
除非另有客戶的書面同意,否則碼頭公司既不會替客戶出席法庭、仲裁庭、調解庭,或應訊,也不會替客戶收受傳票、令狀、其他索賠或訴訟程序通知。假設碼頭公司接獲任何傳票、令狀、其他索賠或訴訟程序通知時,碼頭公司應立即通知客戶此一訊息。
(建議條文四):
Other than as provided in this Agreement, the Contractor shall not incur any liabilities nor make any contractual commitment on behalf of the Customer, without the prior written approval of the Customer.
(譯文):
除非本約另有規定,否則碼頭公司在設有取得客戶的事前書面同意前,不得以客戶的名義承擔任何責任,或為任何契約上的承諾。
(說明):
在「船舶貨物裝卸承攬契約」中,由於碼頭公司與客戶之間的權義相互糾葛,恐會讓外界(甚至客戶)誤解為雙方之間有所謂的「代理」、「僱傭」、「合夥」或「聯盟」等法律關係存在,爰在契約中明白地以列舉方式說明,將有助於未來發生爭訟時有所依歸。另,契約中亦明白說明碼頭公司並非客戶在訴訟上的「送達代收人」(the process agent),其沒有義務替客戶簽收任何司法書狀,甚至代理出庭應訊。當然碼頭公司亦沒有權利以客戶之名為任何承諾或負擔義務,除非其已經取得客戶的事前書面同意(待續)。
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