我國海商法有關旅客運送的規定，明顯有許多改進的空間；專有名詞未加定義，責任規定不夠明確，交通部依法另訂之賠償金額不符合國際趨勢，這些缺失陸續在海商法三次的修法中被忽視，台灣沒有國際航線的經營者，從事客輪經營的業者也不多，可能是主要的原因。但是近年娛樂漁船及交通船的艘數增加、港內有為數不少的大小客輪或交通船進出，海域附近亦有遠洋客輪進港載客及航行，國民又常是國際航線的觀光客等因素，造成海商法適用之可能性大增。法律不符合國際潮流，應是文明社會與海洋國家所不允許之事。去年（二○○五）至今在高雄港不斷發生渡輪與貨輪擦撞、客輪火燒船、交通船擱淺旅客待援等案件，探討海商法「旅客運送」乙節相關規定，進而論及是否需要配合國際旅客運送公約之變革修法，為本文所關切並探討的主題，最後提出海商法修訂條文之建議作為代結論。

The provision deals with carriage of passengers in Taiwan Maritime Code have so often created controversial disputes. Lack of terms definition, the scope of liability is not clear and the amount of compensation is falling far behind the level of international conventions and most national laws, yet such deficiency has been kept overlooked by three times law amendments. The fact that local liner carriers do not provide international passenger service may explain the reason the authority paid no attention to the above deficiency, nevertheless the numbers of launch boats and fishing boats for sightseeing is becoming further more, overseas international liner passenger carriers do carry out business in around Taiwan area, and Taiwan passengers do join international sea journey. The possibility of application of Maritime Code is existed. Moreover, being the perspective of civilized and maritime state like Taiwan, it is necessary to establish sufficient law to govern and regulate such cases. By reference to discuss a sting of incidents occurred in within Kaohsiung harbor in between June to August, 2005, enhance the paper seeks to review the deficiencies in the relevant provision of carriage of passengers and to consider the changes brought by the 2002 Athens Convention. It is hoped that the deficiencies in Taiwan Maritime Code will be looked on upon and be rectified in the further amendments. Recommendation of ratified articles on Taiwan Maritime Code has also been proposed.