Maritime Law

Maritime Law of the People’s Republic of China
中华人民共和国海商法

[Current Text: Chinese only]

(adopted Nov. 7, 1992, effective July 1, 1993; revised Oct. 28, 2025, effective May 1, 2026)

• Status: Revision passed
• Legislative Body (Vote): NPCSC (N/A)
• Principal Drafters: Ministry of Justice & Ministry of Transport et al.
• Submitter: State Council
• Legislative Plans
  • Five-year: 13^th NPCSC Category II; 14^th NPCSC Category I
  • Annual: 2024 (backup), 2025
• Legislative History & Text
  • NPCSC deliberation – round #3 (final): Oct. 24–28, 2025 (Current Text 🔝)
  • NPCSC deliberation – round #2: June 24 – 27, 2025 (Chinese only) 💬
    • Public consultation: June 27 – July 26, 2025
  • NPCSC deliberation – round #1: Nov. 4 – 8, 2024 (Chinese only 🆚) 💬
    • Public consultation: Nov. 8 – Dec. 7, 2024
  • State Council public consultation: Nov. 5 – Dec. 7, 2018 (Chinese only)
• Legislative Records
  • Explanation (Nov. 4, 2024)
  • Report on Status of Revision (June 24, 2025)
  • Report on Results of Deliberation (Oct. 24, 2025)
  • Report on Suggestions for Revision (Oct. 27, 2025)
  • Presidential Order (Oct. 28, 2025)

NPC Observer Coverage

• 📰 October 2025: Neighborhood Party (Nov. 18, 2025)
• NPCSC Session Watch: Fiscal Stimulus(?), People’s Congress Reforms, Energy, Arbitration, Maritime Law & Sci-Tech Popularization (Oct. 25, 2024)

Last updated: November 28, 2025, 11:20 EST