Contract on maritime agency

Abstract

Hrvatski pomorski zakonik je učinio bitan pomak u reguliranju ugovora o pomorskoj agenciji. Time se hrvatsko zakonodavstvo svrstava među rijetke u Europi koji ovaj ugovor sui generis i status pomorskog agenta kao subjekta reguliraju u pomorskim zakonicima. Takav se ugovor uvelike razlikuje od sličnih poslova trgovačkog i građanskog prava. Poslovi pomorskog agenta su bitni sastojci ugovora, a Zakonik ih definira kao zastupanje, posredovanje i pomaganje nalogodavatelju u pomorskom poslovanju. Istaknuti su posebni poslovi kao prihvaćanje i otpremanje brodava i posredovanje pri zaključivanju ugovora o iskorištavanju pomorskih brodova. Propisane su osnovne obveze i prava pomorskih agenata, posebice dužnost isticanja osobitosti agenta i pravo na osiguranje predujma za pokriće nagrade i troškova. Pomorski agent može na osnovi izričite ovlasti potpisati ugovor u ime i za račun obiju strana ugovora o iskorištavanju pomorskih brodova. Veće su ovlasti agenta kojemu nalogodavatelj daje opću ponomoć. Prema zakonu ministar, nadležan za poslove pomorstva, donosi Pravilnik o uvjetima poslovanja pomorskih agenata. Pitanjem pomorskih agenata bave se danas i međunarodne organizacije, kao UNCTAD koji je izradio minimum standarda za pomorske agente, te CMI i FONASBA, koji rade na smjernicama za djelatnost pomorskih agenata i s tim u vezi izradili su upitnike o sadašnjem stanju ovoga važnog posla u pomorstvu.The Croatian Maritime Code represents a great improvement in the regulation of the contract on maritime agency. That makes the Croatian legislation one of the very few in Europe which regulate this special contract and the maritime agents\u27 status in maritime codes. Such a contract completely differs from the similar contracts of commercial or civil law. The maritime agents\u27 activities are the basic elements of the contract, being defined in the Code as services of representation, mediation and assistance to the principals in the marine field. Some services such as the clearance of ships and mediation in concluding contracts of employment of ships, are underlined. The principal duties and rights of maritime agents are regulated, particularly the duty to declare their professional capacity and the right to ensure advances to cover their fees and expenses. If explicitly authorized, the maritime agent may sign a contract of employment of ships for and on behalf of both contracting parties. A maritime agent invested with a general authorization has a higher authority. According to the Code, the Ministry competent for the maritime business brings the rules on the conditions required to perform the activity of maritime agents. The problem of maritime agents has been discussed today by some international organizations as the UNCTAD, which has brought the Minimum standards for shipping agents, as well as by the CMI and FONASBA, which have been working on guidelines for performance of maritime agents\u27 activities and preparing for this purpose quiestionnaires about the actual stage of this important part of maritime business