2009年,貨運保險聯合委員會展開了協會貨運保險條款修訂工作,結合物流業新情況對1982版的協會貨運險條款進行了修訂。文章從物流客戶的角度詳細比較新、舊條款的區別,以期物流客戶能更加熟悉相關條款,促進風險管理工作。
隨著航運業和國際貿易的快速發展,協會貨運險條款(Institute Cargo Clause)1982版經歷了近三十年的變遷,部分內容已漸漸不合時宜。從2007年開始,貨運險聯合委員會(Joint Cargo Committee)展開條款修訂工作,使之更適應現代物流業的操作模式。經過一年多的各方努力,新的貨運險條款已于2009年1月1日起正式啟動,稱之為09版貨運險條款。由于82版條款在客戶心中已根深蒂固,09版條款在市場推廣方面遇到了阻力。即便已推行了2年有余,但實際市場使用率仍低于40%。然而,若仔細將82版與09版作比較,可以發現09版條款在條款格式、保障范圍、條款措詞上均有所改變,總體更適應現代物流業操作模式,也更有利于投保人利益。所以,可以預見09版條款長遠來看將逐漸成為市場的主流條款。本文將就兩版條款主要差別作詳細梳理,以便物流客戶更加了解09版條款,從而更加保護自身利益。從風險角度看,兩個版本在包裝條款、恐怖主義風險、運輸啟止、改變航程條款四方面對風險本質的影響較大。
包裝條款
82版:4.In no case shall this insurance cover
4.3……loss damage or expense caused by insufficiency or unsuitability of packing or preparation of the subject matter insured (for the purpose of this clause 4.3 “packing” shall be deemed to include stowage in a container or liftvan but only when such stowage is carried out prior to attachment of this insurance or by the Assured or their servants)
09版:loss damage or expense caused by insufficiency or unsuitability of packing or preparation of the subject matter insured to withstand the ordinary incidents of the insured transit where such packing or preparation is carried out by the Assured or their employees or prior to the attachment of this insurance (for the purpose of these clauses “packing” shall be deemed to include stowage in a container and “employees” shall not include independent contractors)
從82版條款內容看,原針對包裝不當的除外條款,即使是在被保險人控制之外以及在保險起期后意外受損的風險均被除外,這顯然對被保險人是不恰當的。09條款修改后,現在的除外條款僅限于兩種情況了:①被保險人或其雇員本身對不當包裝負責,而不論何時執行。②包裝或相關準備是在保險起期之前執行的。
通過修改后,不當包裝的除外責任范圍較以前變窄了,因此也就更有利于被保險人。 例如,若生產機器設備的生產商向全球出口設備,生產商的機器存放在另一法人所有的倉庫中。設備準備從倉庫出發送去碼頭,并在碼頭裝箱。在出口行程中,遭遇罕見的、不可預料的惡劣天氣,包裝破裂。在新條款中,這就是屬于保障范圍。即使包裝是第三方所為,就比如貨裝船后若整艙環節不當,從新條款看也屬于保障范圍了,原因在于包裝不當風險也被認為是偶然的(fortuitous)和意外(accidental)的。
從文字看,09版條款刪除了82版中liftvan的說法,因為這本身在法律和商業上就沒有清晰的界定。另外,舊條款中“servants”均改成了“employees”,這也更符合現代商業社會的稱謂,這一改動貫穿了整個條款內容。
恐怖主義條款
82版:7.In no case shall this insurance cover loss damage or expense
7.3 caused by any terrorist or any person acting from a political motive
09版:7.3 caused by any act of terrorism being an act of any person acting on behalf of ,or in connection with, any organization which carries out activities directed towards the overthrowing or influencing, by force or violence, of any government whether or not legally constitutedperson acting from a political
7.4 caused by any person acting from a political, ideological, or religious motive
恐怖主義已成為威脅當今國際物流業重大風險。從條款內容可以看出,原有的“terrorist” (恐怖主義者)的表述已被刪除,取而代之的是“any act of terrorism”(恐怖主義行為),因為本身對于什么是恐怖主義者就沒有世界認可的定義,所以無法認定哪個具體的人是“恐怖主義者”,所以新條款是從行為角度去界定,顯得更為客觀,適用性也更大。
此外,原條款只提及了政治動機(political motive),而新條款更為擴展,包括了意識形態(ideological)及宗教(religious)動機,這在當前復雜的國際背景下顯得尤為重要。修訂完后,措詞也就更為清晰,有助于減少爭端。
運輸條款
1、風險起期
82版:This insurance attaches from the time the goods leave the warehouse or place of storage at the place named herein for the commencement of the transit, continues during the ordinary course of transit and terminates either……
09版:……this insurance attaches from the time the subject matter insured is first moved in the warehouse or at the place of storage (named in the contact of insurance) for the purpose of the immediate loading into or onto the carrying vehicle or other conveyance for the commencement of the transit……
從措詞看,此條款變化是此次修訂中較為核心的一條,對風險的起始點作了重大改變。原條款風險是從離開倉庫開始,也就是我們熟知的“倉至倉”。但新條款,風險起期從倉庫里的第一次移動就開始了,當然對移動也進行了界定,必須是為了馬上進行的裝載(immediate loading),這樣也就排除了倉儲的風險。所以,在新條款中,若是在倉庫中發生的搬動掉落的風險,就將可能成為可保風險。
2、風險結束
82版:……terminates either
8.1.1 on delivery to the consignees’ or other final warehouse or place of storage at the destination named herein,
8.1.2 on delivery to any other warehouse or place of storage, whether prior to or at the destination named herein, ……
09版:……terminates either
on completion of unloading from the carrying vehicle or other conveyance in or at the final warehouse or place of storage at the destination named herein;
on completion of unloading from the carrying vehicle or other conveyance in or at any other warehouse or any other place of storage, whether prior to or at the destination named herein, which the Assured or their employees elect to use either for storage other than in the ordinary course of transit of for allocation or distribution ,or\"……
與風險起期類似,風險止期也做了相應調整,將原條款風險到倉庫即止,延伸至入庫之后的卸載風險,保險范圍更寬,對被保險人更有利,但也更符合了貨運險全程的理解。此外第2小點,對指令的發出人也作了更為清晰的規定,必須是被保險人或其雇員。事實上,從實踐角度看這種指令不可能由一個公司的高層發出,一般均是在現場的被保險人的雇員掌握,所以這個清晰的界定十分重要。
改變行程
82版:Where, after attachment of this insurance, the destination is changed by the Assured, held covered at a premium and on conditions to be arranged subject to prompt notice being given to the underwriters.
09版:Where, after attachment of this insurance, the destination is changed by the Assured, this must be notified promptly to insurers for rates and terms to be agreed. Should a loss occur prior to such agreement being obtained cover may be provided but only if cover would have been available at a reasonable commercial market rate, on reasonable market terms.
Where the subject matter insured commences the transit contemplated by this insurance.... ,but, without the knowledge of the Assured or their employees the ship sails for another destination, this insurance will nevertheless be deemed to have attached at commencement of such transit.
從內容可以清晰看到,對改變行程的風險,新條款比原條款更為嚴格。除了及時通知外,還要求新行程的風險必須是市場的可保風險并加收保費,否則即使及時通知了,也無法獲得保障。此外,若是在被保險人或其雇員不知情的情況下,運輸船舶駛向了另一目的地的話,該保險也不保障。相比原條款,加入了“雇員”,也顯得更實際一些,理由同上。
綜上所述,新條款根據多年來的市場經驗,對風險的表述作了更清晰的界定,有助于避免理賠爭議的發生。新條款修改內容大部分是有利于被保險人的,有助于增強被保險人投保的積極性,也更有利于保險人清楚了解自己的風險保障范圍,這兩方面都將十分有利于物流業務的發展。當然,由于原82版條款被視為經典之作,所以客戶對適應09版條款可能還需一段時間。但我們相信隨著時間延伸,加之保險經紀人的廣泛介紹,09版條款必將成為主流。
(作者單位:中國人民財產保險股份有限公司)