Article 190 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 190 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
Before sailing the master may remove goods not mentioned in the bill or carry them at the usual freight plus compensation; during the voyage he may throw them overboard if they cause damage, cost more than their value, or are prohibited.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا وجد الربان في السفينة قبل السفر بضائع غير مذكورة في سند الشحن أو في إيصال تسلم البضائع, أو تبين له عدم صحة البيانات المتعلقة بها, جاز له إخراجها من السفينة, أو إبقاؤها فيها ونقلها بأجرة تعادل ما يدفع لبضائع من نوعها, وذلك مع عدم الإخلال بما يستحق من تعويض.
2- إذا تبين وجود البضائع المذكورة في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة أثناء السفر, جاز للربان الأمر بإلقائها في البحر, إذا كان من شأنها إحداث أضرار للسفينة أو للبضائع المشحونة فيها، أو كان نقلها يستلزم دفع غرامات أو أداء مصروفات تزيد على قيمتها، أو كان بيعها أو تصديرها ممنوعاً.
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 190 explained in plain English
This article deals with undeclared goods, meaning goods not mentioned in the bill of lading or in the receipt, or whose particulars turn out to be inaccurate.
First: before sailing. If the master finds them before sailing, he may:
- Remove them from the ship, or
- Keep them and carry them for freight equal to what is paid for goods of their kind.
This is without prejudice to any compensation that is due.
Second: during the voyage. If they are discovered during the voyage, the master may order them to be thrown into the sea in any of these cases:
- If they are likely to cause damage to the ship or to the goods loaded.
- If carrying them requires the payment of fines or expenses exceeding their value.
- If their sale or export is prohibited.
Note that throwing goods into the sea is confined to the cases mentioned; this article does not permit it in other cases.
It is preceded by Article 189, which prevents a letter of guarantee from being invoked against a good-faith third party. It is followed by Article 191, which regulates the treatment of dangerous goods that the shipper places without the carrier's knowledge. A shipper whose goods have been removed or destroyed is advised to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
Before his ship sailed from Yanbu, a master discovered boxes not mentioned in the bill of lading. He may remove them, or keep them and carry them for freight equal to what is paid for similar goods, with the right to claim compensation. If he had discovered them during the voyage and their export was prohibited, he could order them to be thrown into the sea.
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 190 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What does the master do with goods not mentioned in the bill of lading?
Before sailing he may remove them or carry them for freight equal to what is paid for goods of their kind, without prejudice to compensation.
When may undeclared goods be thrown into the sea?
During the voyage, if they are likely to damage the ship or the goods, if carrying them requires fines or expenses exceeding their value, or if their sale or export is prohibited.
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.