Article 194 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 194 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
A person entitled to take delivery may ask for delivery orders for quantities of the goods if the bill so provides; they are issued to a named person, to order or to bearer, signed by the carrier and the applicant, and entitle the lawful holder to take what they state.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يجوز لكل من له الحق في تسلم بضائع بمقتضى سند الشحن أن يطلب من الناقل إصدار أذون تسليم تتعلق بكميات منها, بشرط أن ينص على ذلك في سند الشحن.
2- تصدر أذون التسليم باسم شخص معين أو لأمره أو لحامله، ويوقعها الناقل وطالب الإذن.
3- إذا كان سند الشحن قابلاً للتداول وجب أن يذكر فيه الناقل بياناً عن أذون التسليم التي أصدرها والبضائع المبينة فيها، وإذا وزعت الشحنة بأكملها على أذون تسليم متعددة وجب أن يسترد الناقل سند الشحن.
4- يعطي إذن التسليم حامله الشرعي حق تسلم البضائع المبينة به.
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 194 explained in plain English
This article regulates delivery orders, which are documents that allow a single shipment to be divided among more than one recipient.
First: requesting the order. Any person entitled to take delivery of goods under the bill of lading may ask the carrier to issue delivery orders for quantities of them, provided the bill of lading so provides.
Second: the form of the order. Delivery orders are issued in the name of a specific person, to order or to bearer, and are signed by the carrier and the person requesting the order.
Third: the carrier's duties.
- If the bill of lading is negotiable, the carrier states in it the delivery orders it has issued and the goods they cover.
- If the entire shipment has been distributed among several delivery orders, the carrier must take back the bill of lading.
Fourth: the effect of the order. A delivery order gives its lawful holder the right to take delivery of the goods stated in it.
The practical benefit is that a merchant who has sold parts of his shipment to several buyers can give each of them an order for his quantity.
It is preceded by Article 193 on the shipping receipt, and followed by Article 195 on the electronic transport record. Anyone dividing his shipment is advised to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A merchant in Dammam bought a shipment of 1,000 tons of rice under a bill of lading that allows delivery orders, and then sold 400 tons to a merchant in Al-Ahsa. He asked the carrier for a delivery order for the 400 tons for the buyer, and the carrier issued it, signed by both of them, and noted this on the bill.
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 194 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What is a delivery order in carriage by sea?
A document issued by the carrier at the request of the person entitled to take delivery of the goods under the bill of lading, covering quantities of them, which gives its lawful holder the right to take delivery of them.
When may delivery orders be requested?
If the bill of lading so provides.
What happens to the bill of lading if the whole shipment is distributed among delivery orders?
The carrier must take it back.
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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
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تسري على متعهد النقل أحكام تحديد المسؤولية المتعلقة بالناقل المنصوص عليها في النظام.
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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.