国际救助公约page249..doc

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON SALVAGE THE STATES PARTIES TO THE PRESENT CONVENTION RECOGNIZING the desirability of determining by agreement uniform international rules regarding salvage operation, NOTING that substantial developments, in particular the increased concern for the protection of the environment, have demonstrated the need to review the international rules presently contained in the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Law Relation to Assistance and Salvage at Sea Done at Brussels,23 September 1910, CONSCIOUS of the major contribution which efficient and timely salvage operations can make to the safety of vessels and other properly in danger and to the protection of the environment, CONVINCED of the need to ensure that adequate incentives are available to persons who undertake salvage operations in respect of vessels and other property in danger, HAVE AGREED as follows: Chapter I General provisions Article 1. Definitions For the purpose of this Convention: Salvage operation means any act or activity undertaken to assist a vessel or any other property in danger in navigable waters or in any other waters whatsoever, Vessel means any ship or craft, or any structure capable of navigation. Property means any property not permanently and internationally attached to the shoreline and includes freight at risk. Damage to the Environment means substantial physical damage to human health or to marine life or resoures in coastal or inland waters or areas adjacent thereto, caused by pollution, contamination, fire, explosion or similar major incidents. Payment means any reward, remuneration or compensation due under this Convention. Organization means the International maritime Organization. Secretary General means the Secretary General of the Organization. Article 2. Application of the convention This Convention shall apply whenever judicial or arbitral proceedings relation to matters dealt with in the Convention ar brought in a State Party. Articl