REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA CONCERNING THE AD-MINISTRATION OF TRAFFIC SAFETY ON INLAND WATERS
Important Notice: (注意事项)
英文本源自中华人民共和国务院法制局编译, 中国法制出版社出版的《中华人民
共和国涉外法规汇编》(1991年7月版).
当发生歧意时, 应以法律法规颁布单位发布的中文原文为准.
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 (法规全文)
REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA CONCERNING THE AD-
MINISTRATION OF TRAFFIC SAFETY ON INLAND WATERS
(Promulgated by the State Council on December 16, 1986)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1
These Regulations are formulated to improve the administration of traffic
safety on inland waters, ensure the safety of vessels, rafts,
installations, human lives and property and thus facilitate the
development of socialist construction.
Article 2
These Regulations shall apply to all vessels, rafts, installations and
personnel, and to the owners and operators of vessels, rafts and
installations (hereafter shortened to "owners" and "operators") that
navigate, berth, or operate on the inland navigable waters of the People's
Republic of China.
The inland navigable waters mentioned in the previous paragraph shall also
cover the waters under Chinese jurisdiction in border rivers. However, if
agreements have been concluded between the Chinese government and the
governments of other countries, the agreements shall prevail.
Article 3
The harbour superintendencies set up by the communications departments at
various levels shall be the competent authorities responsible for
exercising the unified supervision and control of traffic safety on inland
waters.
Chapter II Vessels, Rafts, Installations and Personnel
Article 4
Vessels must meet the following requirements before they are allowed to
navigate:
(1) holding technical certificates or documents verified as qualified by
the vessel inspection departments after the inspection whereon;
(2) holding vessel nationality certificates, or vessel registration
certificates or vessel licences;
(3) holding insurance policies or insurance certificates as is required of
vessels which must take out vessel insurance according to the relevant
stipulations of the State;
(4) being manned with, according to the relevant State stipulations, crew
members in charge of technical work, chief crewmen, ferrymen and other
crew members who are holding valid certificates of job qualification.
Article 5
The captains, chief engineers, pilots, engineers and radio and telephone
operators of power-driven vessels shall pass examinations and hold valid
certificates of job qualification.
The chief crewmen and ferrymen of non-motorized vessels shall pass
examinations and hold qualification documents.
All other crew members must go through safety instructions and specialized
technical training.
Article 6
Bamboo and wooden rafts shall be fitted out with necessary equipment for
safe navigation, lifesaving appliance and rafters qualified for safe
navigation. The fixed number of rafters to be provided shall be stipulated
by the competent department in charge of forestry. Chief rafters shall
have received special training by the department in charge of forestry and
hold qualification documents.
The administration of rafters for tourist rafts shall be stipulated by the
competent authorities in conjunction with relevant departments.
Article 7
Installations shall be fitted out with safety equipment and personnel
according to stipulations of the State.
Article 8
Vessels shall, in accordance with stipulations of the State, pay harbour
dues to the competent authorities.
Chapter III Owners and Operators
Article 9
Owners and operators must abide by these Regulations and the stipulations
of the State concerning traffic safety.
Article 10
Owners and operators must be responsible for the safety of the vessels,
rafts and installations they own or operate and shall perform the
following obligations:
(1) administration of vessels, rafts and installations shall be
strengthened in terms of safety and technology to keep them in good shape
for navigation or good technical conditions;
(2) the relevant State stipulations must be accorded with in employing
crew members, rafters or other personnel. It is forbidden to employ
captains, chief engineers, pilots, engineers, radio operators, telephone
operators, chief crewmen, ferrymen and rafters who do not hold valid
certificates of job qualification or qualification documents;
(3) technical training and safety instructions shall be strengthened for
crew members, rafters and other personnel; the employees may not be forced
to operate against regulations;
(4) vessels shall be properly dispatched according to the technical
functions of vessels, the qualifications of crew members, the conditions
of the assigned navigation areas and also the hydrological and
meteorological conditions;
(5) they shall be subject to the supervision, examination and
administration of the competent organs.
Chapter IV Navigation, Berthing and Operations
Article 11
In navigation, berthing and operations, vessels, rafts and installations
must abide by the relevant laws, regulations and other rules and
regulations concerning harbour navigation of the People's Republic of
China.
Article 12
Vessels of foreign nationality entering and leaving the inland harbours of
the People's Republic of China that are open to foreign vessels must
obtain the approval of the competent authorities and apply to be navigated
by a Chinese pilot in advance. While they are entering and leaving the
harbours or navigating in inland rivers, foreign vessels must be subject
to the examination and supervision of the competent authorities.
Article 13
Vessels of Chinese nationality entering and leaving inland harbours shall
get port entry and departure visas or accept inspection.
Article 14
When entering or leaving the harbours or passing through traffic control
areas, crowded navigable areas and regions with limited navigational
capacities, vessels must observe the special provisions promulgated by the
Ministry of Communications of the People's Republic of China or the
competent authorities.
Article 15
Except as specially permitted by the competent authorities, vessels and
rafts are prohibited from entering or cutting across restricted navigation
zones.
Article 16
Vessels shall not engage in transportation with overload. Vessels not
equipped for carrying passengers are prohibited from taking on passengers
without permission.
Article 17
Vessels engaged in towing navigation shall observe the relevant
stipulations.
Article 18
Vessels shall navigate in the approved navigation areas at a speed which
is fast enough to ensure their own safety but not so fast as to endanger
the safety of other vessels, rafts and installations. Vessels shall
navigate at the prescribed speed in the areas where speed is restricted
and during periods of high water levels in flood seasons.
Article 19
The berthing of vessels and rafts shall not obstruct other vessels and
rafts from navigating normally or endanger the safety of installations and
dykes. Except for unmanned tug boats, there must be adequate number of
crew members on duty on board the vessels lying at anchor to ensure the
vessels' safety.
Article 20
Manned or towed bamboo and wooden rafts in navigable rivers shall observe
the relevant stipulations formulated by the competent authorities in
conjunction with the competent department in charge of forestry.
Article 21
The competent authorities shall have the right to forbid a vessel, raft or
installation from leaving the harbour, or order it to stop navigation,
cease operations or sail to the designated spot, under any one of the
following circumstances:
(1) it has violated relevant laws, regulations or other rules and
regulations of the People's Republic of China;
(2) it is in a condition not suitable for navigation or towing;
(3) it is involved in a traffic accident and the formalities have not been
completed;
(4) it has not paid the fees that are due, nor has it submitted a suitable
guarantee therefor, to the competent authorities or relevant department;
or
(5) it will in any way jeopardize traffic safety.
Article 22
When vessels, rafts and installations are involved in accidents that
jeopardize or may jeopardize traffic safety, the competent authorities has
the right to handle the matter by adopting compulsory measures.
Chapter V Control of Dangerous Goods
Article 23
When vessels, rafts and installations store, load, unload and transport
dangerous goods, they must abide by the provisions of the State concerning
the control of dangerous goods and their transport.
Article 24
When vessels load and unload dangerous goods at harbours or carry them
into or out of harbours, they shall report to the local competent
authorities for approval in advance according to the relevant provisions
of the State.
Chapter VI Administration of Ferries
Article 25
The setting-up or removal of urban ferries shall be approved by the organs
designated by local people's governments. The setting-up or removal of
other ferries shall be approved by the people's governments at the county
level or above. It is forbidden to set up or remove ferries or ferry
passengers before the approval is obtained.
Article 26
Departments of ferry administration shall strengthen safety control of
ferries. The competent authorities shall strengthen supervision and
direction for this purpose.
Chapter VII Guarantee for Safety
Article 27
Administrative departments for navigation channels and navigational aids
shall strengthen administration and maintenance of navigational channels
and navigational aids, keep channels unblocked and navigational aids
distinct and effective.
Article 28
No objects adversely affecting the efficacy of navigational aids may be
erected around them. Strong lights that hinder navigational safety or any
lights that may mix up with navigational aids on both sides of
navigational lanes, shall be properly screened.
Article 29
Without the approval of the competent authorities or administrative
departments for navigation lanes, no units or individuals may remove
navigational aids. If navigational aids have been removed or damaged, it
must be immediately reported to the competent authorities or
administrative departments for navigational lanes.
Article 30
Applications annexed by illustrations shall be made to the harbour
superintendencies for approval before the coastlines of the harbour areas
may be used. Without the examination and approval of the competent
authorities, no installations may be constructed on the coastlines of the
harbour areas.
Article 31
Approval shall be sought from the competent authorities and navigational
warnings or notices be issued before restricted navigation-zones may be
set up and surface or underwater construction, sports competitions and
other activities affecting traffic safety may be carried out.
Before a restricted military navigation zone is designated, agreement
shall be reached through consultation with the competent authorities,
which shall then issue navigational warnings or notices.
Article 32
The designation and adjustment of traffic control zones, anchorages and
berthing areas must be submitted, with the consent of the local people's
governments, by the competent authorities, to organs at higher levels for
approval.
Article 33
It is forbidden to set up fixed fishing nets and fishing nets cutting
across rivers or to grow water plants in habitual navigational lanes. The
competent authorities shall order the owners of these unauthorized fishing
nets and water plants to eliminate them or have them eliminated by
coercion.
Article 34
It is forbidden to dump gravel and trash into navigational lanes.
Article 35
If vessels, installations or objects which obstruct safe navigation sink
in navigable waters, the owners or operators must set up marks according
to the relevant provisions and report to the competent authorities.
Article 36
Sunken and drifting objects that may affect the safety of navigation and
constitute potential threats shall be gotten away with by the owners or
operators before a deadline set by the competent authorities. If these
objects are not duly cleared away, the competent authorities shall have
the right to take coercive measures to that end, and all the costs thereof
shall be borne by the owners or operators of the sunken or drifting
objects. The provisions of the previous paragraph of this Article shall
not affect the rights of owners and operators of sunken or drifting
objects to demand compensation from third parties.
Article 37
Without the approval of the competent authorities, sunken ships and
objects in the navigable waters may not be salvaged or dismantled.
Article 38
After installations are moved or scrapped, sunken ships and objects
salvaged or cleared away, and the rounding-off work of the surface or
underwater construction handled, no objects may be left to hinder the
safety of navigation, berthing and operations.
Article 39
Vessels, rafts, installations and personnel shall promptly report to the
competent authorities if they discover any of the following situations:
(1) if navigational lanes change;
(2) if there are objects hindering safe navigation;
(3) if navigational aids are damaged or abnormal, moved or lost;
(4) if there is any other situation hindering safe navigation.
Article 40
The competent authorities shall be responsible for uniformly issuing and
administering inland water navigational warnings and navigational notices.
Chapter VIII Assistance and Rescue
Article 41
Vessels, rafts and installations that are in distress shall adopt all
effective measures to organize self-help and promptly report to the
nearest competent authorities as well as their owners or operators the
time and scene of the accident, the extent of damage, the assistance
required and the cause of the accident.
Article 42
Vessels, rafts, installations or personnel in the vicinity of the scene of
an accident that have received distress signals, shall do their best to
rescue the personnel and report promptly to the nearest competent
authorities the situation at the scene.
Article 43
The vessels, rafts and installations involved in a collision shall, under
circumstances where there is no danger to their own safety, do their best
to offer assistance and may not leave the scene of the accident without
authorization.
Article 44
Upon receipt of a report calling for rescue, the competent authorities
must immediately organize a rescue operation. Departments concerned and
vessels, rafts, installations and personnel in the vicinity of the scene
of the accident shall follow the unified directions of the competent
authorities.
Chapter IX Investigation and Handling of Traffic Accidents
Article 45
Vessels, rafts and installations involved in traffic accidents shall
present accident reports and related materials to the competent
authorities and subject themselves to investigations and handling of the
matter.
Traffic accidents involving bamboo and wooden rafts shall be investigated
and handled by the competent authorities in conjunction with the
departments in charge of forestry.
Article 46
The competent authorities shall, upon receipt of accident reports,
organize investigations. The parties involved in the accidents and persons
concerned must, during investigation by the competent authorities, provide
truthful information relating to the accidents.
Article 47
If a traffic accident gives rise to a civil dispute, the parties involved
may apply to the competent authorities for conciliation. If the parties do
not apply for conciliation or conciliation is not successful, they may
bring a suit before the people's court. Parties to a case involving
foreign interests may also, based on a written agreement, submit the case
to an arbitration institution concerning foreign related matters for
arbitration.
Chapter X Awards and Penalties
Article 48
Those units or individuals that have done remarkably in ensuring traffic
safety by preventing or reducing personnel casualties and by preventing or
reducing property losses shall be commended or awarded by the competent
authorities or by their units.
Article 49
With respect to the persons who have violated the provisions of these
Regulations or who are held liable for traffic accidents, the competent
authorities may impose one or a number of the following penalties:
(1) a warning;
(2) withholding or revoking the licences or certificates;
(3) a fine.
Article 50
If a party does not accept the penalty (penalties) imposed by the
competent authorities, he may within 15 days from the date of receiving
the notice of the penalty (penalties), bring a suit before the people's
court; failure to bring a suit or comply with the penalty (penalties)
within this period shall lead to petition by the competent authorities to
the people's court for compulsory enforcement.
Article 51
Those punishable according to the relevant provisions concerning public
security administration for violations of these Regulations shall be dealt
with by public security organs; as for those criminally liable, the
judicial organs shall in accordance with the law pursue their criminal
liabilities.
Chapter XI Supplementary Provisions
Article 52
The following terms as used in these Regulations are defined as follows:
"Inland navigable waters" refers to the navigable waters in the rivers,
lakes, reservoirs and canals as well as harbours within the People's
Republic of China. "Vessels" refers to all types of displacement or non-
displacement ships, boats and mobile platforms.
"Installations" refers to all types of structures, installations,
pipelines and electric cables, on the surface or underwater, fixed or
floating, and fixed platforms as well. "Operations" refers to loading and
unloading, exploration, exploitation, survey, construction, dredging,
demolition, salvage, rescue, fishing, aquatic breeding, diving, scientific
experimentation and other surface or underwater construction carried out
in navigable waters and their shorelines.
"Traffic accidents" refers to collision, running aground, running on
rocks, damage through contact, damage by waves, windstorm, fire and other
accidents happening to vessels, rafts and installations.
Article 53
Vessels of foreign nationality entering and leaving the inland rivers
shall observe, in addition to these Regulations, the relevant provisions
of the People's Republic of China concerning administration of vessels of
foreign nationality.
Article 54
The internal administration of zones under military control and military
vessels as well as public security vessels shall be separately prescribed
by the relevant departments of the State according to these Regulations.
Article 55
The internal administration such as registration and inspection of fishing
vessels, examination and issuing of certificates for crew members of
fishing vessels and investigation and handling of traffic accidents among
fishing vessels shall be separately prescribed according to these
Regulations by the State fisheries administration and fishing ports
superintendency departments in conjunction with the competent authorities.
Article 56
The traffic safety control of the waters at urban scenic spots and gardens
and of the waters exclusively used by factories, mines and other
enterprises as approved by the people's governments of the provinces,
autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central
Government shall be separately prescribed according to these Regulations
by the competent departments or the factories, mines and enterprises
concerned.
Article 57
These Regulations shall be interpreted by the Ministry of Communications,
which shall also formulate the rules for the implementation.
Article 58
These Regulations shall become effective as of January 1, 1987.