Article 191 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 191 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
The carrier may remove or destroy dangerous goods loaded without its knowledge without liability, and the shipper is liable for the damage; if it agreed to their loading it may do so only if they threaten the ship or cargo.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا وضع الشاحن في السفينة بضائع خطرة أو قابلة للاشتعال أو الانفجار بغير علم الناقل، جاز للناقل إخراجها من السفينة, أو إتلافها, أو إزالة خطورتها وفقاً للضوابط والإجراءات المحددة نظاماً، ولا يسأل الناقل عن ذلك إذا أثبت أنه ما كان ليرضى بشحنها في السفينة لو علم بطبيعتها، ويسأل الشاحن عن الأضرار والمصروفات التي تنشأ عن وضع هذه البضائع في السفينة.
2- إذا كان الناقل يعلم بطبيعة هذه البضائع, وأذن بشحنها, فلا يجوز له بعد ذلك إخراجها من السفينة أو إتلافها أو إزالة خطورتها, إلا إذا أصبحت خطورتها تهدد السفينة أو الشحنة، وفي هذه الحالة لا يتحمل الناقل أي مسؤولية إلا ما تعلق بالخسائر البحرية المشتركة عند الاقتضاء.
3- تراعى الأحكام الخاصة المنصوص عليها في الاتفاقيات البحرية الدولية التي تكون المملكة طرفاً فيها, المتعلقة بنقل الحبوب, والبضاعة الخطرة، والبترول، والمواد الكيميائية، والغازات.
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 191 explained in plain English
This article regulates dangerous, inflammable or explosive goods, and distinguishes between two cases:
First: loading without the carrier's knowledge. If the shipper placed them on the ship without the carrier's knowledge:
- The carrier may remove them, destroy them or neutralize their danger in accordance with the rules and procedures set by law.
- The carrier is not liable for this if it proves that it would not have agreed to load them had it known their nature.
- The shipper is liable for the damage and expenses arising from placing these goods on the ship.
Second: loading with the carrier's knowledge and permission. If the carrier knew their nature and permitted their loading:
- It may not afterwards remove them, destroy them or neutralize their danger, unless their danger has come to threaten the ship or the cargo.
- In that case the carrier bears no liability, except what relates to general average losses where applicable.
Third: international conventions. The special provisions in international maritime conventions to which the Kingdom is a party, concerning the carriage of grain, dangerous goods, petroleum, chemicals and gases, are to be observed.
It is preceded by Article 190, which regulates goods not mentioned in the bill. It is followed by Article 192 on the evidentiary force of the bill of lading. Shippers of dangerous materials are advised to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A factory loaded barrels of flammable solvents described as cleaning materials, without informing the carrier. When the carrier discovered what they were, it removed them from the ship. It is not liable for this if it proves that it would not have agreed to load them had it known, and the factory bears the damage and expenses.
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 191 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What does the carrier do if it discovers dangerous goods loaded without its knowledge?
It may remove them, destroy them or neutralize their danger in accordance with the legal rules, and it is not liable if it proves that it would not have agreed to load them had it known their nature.
May the carrier destroy dangerous goods whose loading it agreed to?
No, unless their danger has come to threaten the ship or the cargo.
Who bears the damage of dangerous goods loaded without the carrier's knowledge?
The shipper is liable for the damage and expenses arising from placing them on 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.