Research On Fundamental Legal Problems Concerning NVOCC

With the rapid and remarkable advances in seaborne containerize transport and multimodal transport, a particular entity enters into the business of foreign trade transportation. The entity is called non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC). The concept of a NVOCC was first put into practice by the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), and is widely used in international shipping. The State Council promulgated Regulations of PRC on International Maritime Transportation (the Regulations) on December 11, 2001, and they became effective as of January 1, 2002. The Regulations define "Non-vessel Carriage Business" for the first time and stipulate strict access requirements and supervisory policies in china. But now on an international scale, there is not uniformed understanding about NVOCC. Though the comparison and analyses of NVOCC in different countries, and based on the existing stipulations of NVOCC in china, this article gives a clear definition, status, rights, responsibilities of NVOCC. Based on the foregoing discussions, the article provides some conclusions to perfect the legislations regulating NVOCC in china.