Anchoring Reform: How Maritime Practice Reshaped Chinas Maritime Code

Abstract

The revised Maritime Law of the People’s Republic of China replaces the 1992 statute and consolidates the law on the carriage of goods by sea, marine insurance, and ship finance leasing, thereby reflecting current practical developments and international uniform law. It extends the scope of regulation to domestic transport, strengthens environmental and liability provisions, introduces electronic transport records, and modernizes key definitions such as that of the “actual carrier.” Liability limits are raised, risk management and victim protection are enhanced, and coherence with international uniform law, particularly the Hague-Visby Rules and the Hamburg Rules, is ensured. The law also promotes international cooperation, safeguards Chinese interests in shipping and shipbuilding, and modernizes legislative drafting and legal terminology. Overall, the revision represents a major update of Chinese maritime law will support legal certainty, maritime risk governance, and the development of China’s shipping industry. Moreover, it can be expected that the new legislation will provide guidance for the further evolution of international law.