Article 122 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 122 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: الوكيل الملاحي ومتعهد النقل
The cargo agent must preserve the rights of the goods' owners against the carrier; otherwise the agent is presumed to have received the goods in the condition and quantity stated in the bill of lading, unless the contrary is proved by an official record.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب على وكيل الشحنة اتخاذ الإجراءات والتدابير اللازمة للمحافظة على حقوق أصحاب الشأن في البضاعة قِبَل الناقل أو متعهد النقل، وإلا افترض أنّ الوكيل تسلم البضاعة في الحالة والكمية المذكورتين في سند الشحن، ويجوز إثبات عكس ذلك من خلال معاينة البضاعة وحصر حالتها وإثباتها في محضر رسمي.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 122 explained in plain English
This article governs the duty of the cargo agent, who under Article 1 is a person who acts for the goods' owners in receiving the goods on arrival and paying the freight if it is due.
First: the duty. The cargo agent must take the necessary steps and measures to preserve the rights of the interested parties in the goods against the carrier or the transport contractor.
Second: the consequence of neglect. If the agent does not, it is presumed that the agent received the goods in the condition and quantity stated in the bill of lading. This presumption harms the goods' owner, because it makes it harder to claim for a shortage or damage.
Third: proof to the contrary. The contrary of this presumption may be proved by inspecting the goods, recording their condition and documenting it in an official record.
The practical result: whoever receives goods on behalf of their owners should promptly inspect them and officially document any shortage or damage. This role differs from that of the shipping agent, who acts for the shipowner, and Article 121 limits the shipping agent's liability toward shippers to the agent's own fault or that of those working for the agent. Owners of damaged goods are advised to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A cargo agent in the port of Dammam receives goods for a company in Riyadh and notices a shortage in the number of packages. If the agent does not inspect the goods and document the shortage in an official record, the agent is presumed to have received them complete, as stated in the bill of lading.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 122 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What happens if the cargo agent does not document the condition of the goods?
The agent is presumed to have received them in the condition and quantity stated in the bill of lading.
How does the cargo agent prove the goods arrived damaged?
By inspecting the goods, recording their condition and documenting it in an official record.
More articles on Shipping Agent and Carriage Contractor
- Article 117
Contracts and acts carried out by the shipping agent and the transport contractor are governed by the laws of the country in which those contracts or acts are made.
تخضع العقود والأعمال التي يجريها الوكيل الملاحي ومتعهد النقل لأنظمة الدولة التي تُجرى فيها هذه العقود أو الأعمال.
- Article 118
A claim by the shipping agent or transport contractor against the principal or the employer is brought under the Law of Sharia Procedure, and may be brought before the court of the agent's or contractor's domicile.
تقام دعوى الوكيل الملاحي أو متعهد النقل على الموكل أو صاحب العمل وفق نظام المرافعات الشرعية، ويجوز أن تقام أمام المحكمة التي يقع في نطاق اختصاصها موطن الوكيل أو
- Article 119
A claim by the principal or employer against the shipping agent or transport contractor is not heard after two years from the date the debt falls due.
لا تسمع دعوى الموكل أو صاحب العمل على الوكيل الملاحي أو متعهد النقل بعد مضي سنتين من تاريخ استحقاق الدين.
- Article 120
The shipping agent remains liable to the shipowner as a paid agent.
يبقى الوكيل الملاحي مسؤولاً أمام المجهز بوصفه وكيلاً بأجر.
- Article 121
The shipping agent is liable to shippers or consignees for loss of or damage to goods when loaded or unloaded only for the agent's own fault or the fault of those working for the agent.
لا يسأل الوكيل الملاحي من قبل الشاحنين أو المرسل إليهم عن هلاك أو تلف البضائع التي يتسلمها لشحنها في السفينة أو التي يتولى تفريغها منها لتسليمها لأصحابها إلا عن
- Article 123
The transport contractor carries out loading or unloading for the account of the person who engaged him, is answerable only to that person, and is liable for his own fault or the fault of those working for him in this work.
1- يقوم متعهد النقل بالشحن أو التفريغ لحساب من كلفه بالقيام به، ولا يسأل في هذا الشأن إلا قِبَل هذا الشخص الذي يكون له وحده إقامة دعوى عليه. 2- يسأل متعهد النقل
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.