Article 182 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 182 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
This article sets out the particulars to be stated in a bill of lading: the parties and their addresses, the description of the goods, the ship and master, the two ports, the freight, the place and date of issue and number of copies, and deck loading.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يذكر في سند الشحن على وجه خاص البيانات الآتية:
1- اسم الناقل والشاحن والمرسل إليه، وعنوان كل منهم.
2- صفات البضاعة كما دونها الشاحن، وعلى الأخص: طبيعتها, ومدى خطورتها, وعدد الطرود, ووزنها, أو حجمها, أو العلامات المميزة الموضوعة عليها, وحالتها الظاهرة بما في ذلك حالة الأوعية التي وضعت فيها.
3- اسم السفينة إذا صدر السند وقت إجراء الشحن أو بعد إجرائه.
4- اسم الربان.
5- ميناء الشحن, وميناء التفريغ.
6- أجرة النقل إذا كانت مستحقة كلها عند الوصول، أو الجزء المستحق منها.
7- مكان إصدار السند, وتاريخ إصداره, وعدد النسخ التي حررت منه.
8- بيان إن كانت البضاعة ستشحن على سطح السفينة.
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 182 explained in plain English
This article specifies the particulars to be stated in a bill of lading in particular:
- The name of the carrier, the shipper and the consignee and the address of each.
- The description of the goods as recorded by the shipper, in particular: their nature, how dangerous they are, the number of packages, their weight or volume, or the distinguishing marks on them, and their apparent condition including the condition of the containers.
- The name of the ship if the bill is issued at the time of loading or afterwards.
- The name of the master.
- The port of loading and the port of discharge.
- The freight if all of it is payable on arrival, or the part of it that is payable.
- The place and date of issue of the bill and the number of copies drawn up.
- A statement of whether the goods will be loaded on the deck of the ship.
The phrase "in particular" means that these particulars are the most important, without preventing others from being stated.
These particulars have practical importance: Article 181 gives a receipt for goods the force of a bill of lading if it contains them. Article 183 regulates the shipper's written presentation of the goods' particulars, the carrier's right to enter reservations about them, and the duty to report dangerous goods. To make sure the bill's particulars are sound before it is approved, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime and commercial law.
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 182 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What particulars are required in a bill of lading?
The names and addresses of the carrier, the shipper and the consignee, the description of the goods, the names of the ship and the master, the ports of loading and discharge, the freight, the place and date of issue and the number of copies, and a statement on loading on deck.
Must the bill state that the goods will be loaded on deck?
Yes, one of the required particulars is a statement of whether the goods will be loaded on the deck of the ship.
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 179
A contract of carriage by sea can be proved only in writing.
لا يثبت عقد النقل البحري إلا بالكتابة.
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.