Article 124 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 124 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: الوكيل الملاحي ومتعهد النقل
The provisions limiting the carrier's liability set out in the Law apply to the transport contractor.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تسري على متعهد النقل أحكام تحديد المسؤولية المتعلقة بالناقل المنصوص عليها في النظام.
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 124 explained in plain English
This article provides that the transport contractor benefits from the provisions limiting liability that the Law sets for the carrier. If the carrier has maximum limits on liability for loss of or damage to goods, the transport contractor enjoys the same limits.
The article does not state these limits itself, but refers to the provisions limiting the carrier's liability set out in the Law, which appear elsewhere in it. One therefore looks to them to learn the limits and the conditions for applying them.
The reasoning is that, under Article 1, the transport contractor carries on the business of carrying goods by sea under a single contract of carriage and a single transport document, acting as a principal. His role is close to the carrier's, so it is fair to treat him like the carrier regarding limits of liability.
This article follows Article 123, which makes the transport contractor liable for his own fault or the fault of those working for him in loading and unloading, and answerable only to the person who engaged him. Article 123 sets the basis of liability and who may claim it; this article sets its ceiling. To assess compensation in a particular case, consulting a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law is advised.
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 124 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Is the transport contractor's liability limited?
Yes. The provisions limiting the carrier's liability set out in the Law apply to the contractor.
Where do I find the limits of the transport contractor's liability?
In the Law's provisions limiting the carrier's liability, since this article does not state them.
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 122
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.
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 ف
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.