Article 179 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 179 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
A contract of carriage by sea can be proved only in writing.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يثبت عقد النقل البحري إلا بالكتابة.
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 179 explained in plain English
This article opens the provisions on the contract of carriage by sea with a rule of proof: a contract of carriage by sea can be proved only in writing.
Under Article 1, a contract of carriage by sea is the contract in which the carrier undertakes to carry goods or persons by sea for a fee. The article therefore covers the carriage of goods and the carriage of persons alike.
The meaning of the rule is that whoever claims the existence of a contract of carriage by sea must produce written evidence. An oral agreement alone is not enough to prove the contract.
The practical result is clear for anyone dealing in carriage by sea, whether shipper or carrier: the agreement should be documented in writing so that it can be proved in a dispute.
This article does not specify the form of writing required. Article 1 defines the bill of lading as a document issued by the carrier at the shipper's request on receiving the goods from it, setting out the particulars and terms of carriage.
It is preceded by Article 178, which prevents the charterer from escaping the freight by abandoning the goods. It is followed by Article 180, which provides that the sale of the ship does not result in the cancellation of the contract of carriage by sea. Anyone entering into a contract of carriage by sea is advised to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime and commercial law to draft it.
Practical example
A merchant in Riyadh agreed orally with a sea carrier to ship goods, and then a dispute arose over the freight. Because the contract can be proved only in writing, the merchant needs a written document proving the agreement.
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 179 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Must a contract of carriage by sea be in writing?
Yes, a contract of carriage by sea can be proved only in writing.
Does the rule cover the carriage of passengers?
Under the definition in Article 1, a contract of carriage by sea covers the carriage of goods or persons, and the article speaks of the contract of carriage by sea in general.
More articles on Carriage of Goods by Sea and the Bill of Lading
- Article 115
If the master must repair the ship during the voyage, the shipper may wait or take out the goods while paying full freight, with no increase in freight; if repair is not possible, the master hires a substitute ship at his own expense.
1- إذا اضطر الربان إلى إصلاح السفينة أثناء السفر، كان للمستأجر أو الشاحن الخيار بين الانتظار حتى إتمام إصلاح السفينة أو إخراج بضائعه منها، وفي هذه الحالة الأخير
- 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
- Article 124
The provisions limiting the carrier's liability set out in the Law apply to the transport contractor.
تسري على متعهد النقل أحكام تحديد المسؤولية المتعلقة بالناقل المنصوص عليها في النظام.
- Article 155
The lessor of a fully equipped ship is liable for damage to the goods the lessee places on the ship, unless he proves he fully performed his obligations and the damage did not arise from his fault or that of his subordinates.
يسأل مؤجر السفينة المجهزة عن الضرر الذي يصيب البضائع التي يضعها المستأجر في السفينة, إلا إذا أثبت أنه قام بتنفيذ التزاماته كاملة, وأن الضرر لم ينشأ عن تقصيره أو
- Article 180
The sale of the ship does not result in the cancellation of the contract of carriage by sea.
لا يترتب على بيع السفينة فسخ عقد النقل البحري.
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.