Article 183 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 183 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
The shipper gives the goods' particulars in writing to be entered in the bill; the carrier may enter reservations, giving the reason, if in doubt or unable to verify; the shipper must report dangerous goods and mark them with a warning.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يقدم الشاحن -كتابة- البيانات المتعلقة بالبضائع عند تسليمها إلى الناقل، وتقيد هذه البيانات في سند الشحن، وللناقل إبداء تحفظات على قيدها إن كان لديه أسباب مقنعة للشك في صحتها, أو لم تكن لديه الوسائل العادية للتأكد منها، وتذكر أسباب التحفظ على قيد البيانات في سند الشحن.
2- إذا كانت البضاعة خطرة أو قابلة للاشتعال أو الانفجار وجب على الشاحن أن يبلغ الناقل بذلك، وأن يضع بياناً على البضاعة للتحذير من خطورتها, وبياناً بكيفية الوقاية منها.
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 183 explained in plain English
This article regulates the goods' particulars and the shipper's duties.
First: giving the particulars. The shipper gives the particulars of the goods in writing when delivering them to the carrier, and they are entered in the bill of lading.
Second: the carrier's reservations. The carrier may enter reservations about the entry of these particulars in two cases:
- If it has convincing reasons to doubt their accuracy.
- If it does not have the ordinary means of verifying them.
The reasons for the reservation must be stated in the bill of lading.
Third: dangerous goods. If the goods are dangerous or inflammable or explosive, the shipper must:
- Inform the carrier of this.
- Place a notice on the goods warning of their danger.
- Place a notice on how to guard against it.
Article 182 specifies the particulars a bill of lading contains, including the description of the goods as recorded by the shipper and how dangerous they are. Article 184 makes the shipper liable to the carrier for compensating the harm arising from the inaccuracy of the particulars it provided, even if it has assigned the bill to a third party. A shipper sending dangerous goods is advised to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A factory in Jubail ships flammable chemicals. It gives their particulars to the carrier in writing, informs it of their danger, and places on the containers a warning and the method of protection. If the carrier doubted the weight of the shipment and had no means of verifying it, it could enter a reservation in the bill, stating the reason.
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 183 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Is the carrier entitled to enter reservations about the shipper's particulars?
Yes, if it has convincing reasons to doubt their accuracy or does not have the ordinary means of verifying them, stating the reasons for the reservation in the bill of lading.
What are the shipper's duties when shipping dangerous goods?
To inform the carrier of their danger, and to place a notice on the goods warning of it and a notice on how to guard against it.
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.