ABSTRACT
The legal system of the People's Republic of China (RPC) is similar to the civil law system. The main statutory law of the maritime law of the PRC includes the Maritime Law. The Supreme People's Court (SPC) has also promulgated judicial interpretations for the implementation of Chinese maritime law. The SPC aims to promulgate one or two judicial interpretations in the field of maritime law each year so as to unify the judicial practice. There are ten maritime courts in China that have been established since 1984. The maritime courts deal with actions brought by parties in respect of maritime tort, disputes over maritime contracts and other maritime disputes as provided for by law. The SPC set up the Fourth Civil Division for trials and the rehearing of commercial and maritime cases, and for exercising guidance and supervision of the adjudicatory work of all the maritime courts and the appellate courts.
