Chapter X
TOWAGE OF SEAGOING VESSELS

Article 178.- Towage of seagoing vessels
1. Towage of seagoing vessels means towing, pulling away, pushing or standing by seagoing vessels or other floating objects on the sea and in seaport waters by towing vessels.
2. Towage of seagoing vessels includes towage on the sea and assisting towage in seaport waters.

Article 179.-Contracts for towage of seagoing vessels
1. A contract for towage of a seagoing vessel is a contract concluded in writing between the owner of a towing vessel and the towage hirer, except for assisting towage in seaport waters.
2. The seagoing – vessel towage service charges shall be agreed upon by the involved parties, unless otherwise provided for by law.

Article 180.- The right to command towage of seagoing vessels
1. The towing vessel and the seagoing vessel or other towed objects constitute a towage team. A towage team shall be set up as soon as the towing vessel and other vessels forming the towage team are ready to carry out necessary maneuvers on the order of the commander of the towage team, and it shall break up as soon as the last maneuver is completed and the vessels forming the towage team have sailed away one from another to a safe distance.
2. The commander of the towage team shall be determined by agreement between the parties to the contract for towage of the seagoing –vessel; in the absence of such agreement, he/she shall be determined by local custom.
3. The right to command assistance towage in seaport waters shall be vested in the master of the towed vessel.

Article 181.- Obligations of the parties to contracts for towage of seagoing vessels
1. The owner of the towing vessel shall be obliged to provide at the agreed time and place a towing vessel with technical conditions as agreed upon in the contract for towage of the seagoing vessel.
2. The towage hirer shall be obliged to prepare all safety conditions for vessels as agreed upon in the contract for towage of the seagoing vessel.

Article 182.- Liability to compensate for damage arising from towage of seagoing vessels
1. The owner of the vessel whose master is in navigational command of the towage team shall be liable for damage to another vessel in the team as well as to persons and properties on board such vessel, unless he/she proves that such damage has occurred beyond the scope of his/her liability.
2. A vessel which is under the navigational command of the master of another vessel shall not be relieved of the liability to take care of the safety of the towage team; the shipowner shall be liable for damage caused by his/her vessel’s fault to another vessel in the team as well as to persons and properties on board such vessel.
3. In the course of performance of the contract for towage of the seagoing vessel, if damage has been caused to a third party, the contractual parties shall have to compensate for such damage corresponding to the extent of each party’s fault.

Article 183.- Statute of limitations for initiation of lawsuits regarding performance of contracts for towage of seagoing vessels
The statute of limitations for initiation of lawsuits regarding performance of contracts for towage of seagoing vessels is two years as from the date of arising of disputes.

Article 184.- Towage of military vessels, public-duty vessels, fishing vessels, inland waterway crafts and hydroplanes
The provisions of this Section shall apply to military vessels, public-duty vessels, fishing vessels, inland waterway crafts and hydroplanes.