Article 197 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 197 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
The carrier must load and unload the goods unless otherwise agreed, and must stow them in the ship, preserve them, carry them and deliver them on arrival.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يلتزم الناقل بشحن البضائع في السفينة وتفريغها ما لم يتفق على غير ذلك, ويلتزم كذلك برص البضاعة في السفينة والمحافظة عليها, ونقلها, وتسليمها عند وصولها.
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 197 explained in plain English
This article sets out the carrier's basic duties toward the goods from the start of loading until delivery:
- Loading: putting the goods on the ship.
- Stowing: arranging the goods inside the ship.
- Preserving them during the voyage.
- Carrying: bringing them to the destination.
- Unloading: taking them off the ship.
- Delivery: handing them over on arrival.
However, loading and unloading in particular fall on the carrier unless otherwise agreed; the parties may agree that the shipper or the consignee will handle them. The article does not make stowing, preserving, carrying or delivering subject to agreement to the contrary.
Stowing matters in practice, because poor arrangement of the goods can damage them or endanger the ship.
It follows Article 196, which requires the carrier to prepare the ship and cargo sections so they are fit to sail, to carry and to preserve the goods. It is followed by Article 198, which prevents the carrier from loading goods on the deck of the ship except in specified cases, other than coastal navigation between the Kingdom's ports. Anyone whose goods were damaged during loading or unloading is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A merchant contracted with a carrier to transport equipment from Jeddah port without saying who would handle loading and unloading. The carrier must load, stow, preserve, carry and unload the equipment and deliver it on arrival.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCommercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 197 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Who is responsible for loading and unloading goods in sea carriage?
The carrier, unless otherwise agreed.
What are the carrier's duties toward the goods?
To load and unload them unless otherwise agreed, and to stow them in the ship, preserve them, carry them and deliver them on arrival.
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.