China: Information on whether the Shanghai Ocean Transport Company is a state or private company, whether seamen have signed contracts with the company, and the penalties under the law for ship-jumping
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 December 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CHN28372.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, China: Information on whether the Shanghai Ocean Transport Company is a state or private company, whether seamen have signed contracts with the company, and the penalties under the law for ship-jumping, 1 December 1997, CHN28372.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac4318.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No information on a company called the Shanghai Ocean Transport Company could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, there is information available on a company called the Shanghai Ocean Shipping Company. The Shanghai Ocean Shipping Company is a subsiduary of the state-owned China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) which is China's largest shipping company and one of the four largest in the world (Journal of Commerce 4 Nov. 1997; Beijing Zhongguo Xinwen She 27 Oct. 1997). COSCO announced a restructuring in its shipping operations in late October 1997 in which the Shanghai Ocean Shipping Company would take over all overseas container traffic (The Economist Intelligence Unit Views Wire 7 Nov. 1997). Please see the attached articles for additional information on this restructuring and the Shanghai Ocean Shipping Company.
In a 8 December 1997 interview, a representative of COSCO in New York stated that all members of the crews are considered employees of COSCO and that no contracts are signed.
No information on the penalties, civil or criminal, imposed for ship-jumping could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Beijing Zhongguo Xinwen She [in English]. 27 October 1997. "China: COSCO To Be Restructured" (FBIS-CHI-97-300 27 Oct. 1997/WNC).
The Economist Intelligence Unit Views Wire. 7 November 1997. "China Company: China Ocean Shipping To Revamp Business Operations." (NEXIS)
Journal of Commerce. 4 November 1997. P.T. Bangsberg. "Divide and Conquer." (NEXIS)
COSCO, New York. 8 December 1997.Telephone interview with representative.
Attachments
China Business Information Network. 24 November 1997. "China Business Information Network." (NEXIS)
China Daily. 8 November 1997. "China: COSCO Launching Reshuffle." (NEXIS)
Journal of Commerce. 4 November 1997. P.T. Bangsberg. "Divide and Conquer." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Global News Bank, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).
The Europa World Year Book 1997. [London]. 1997.
Far Eastern Economic Review [Hong Kong]. 1996 to present.
Resource Centre Country File (China). 1993 to present.
