Article 199 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 199 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
If the ship stops and cannot continue, the carrier must exercise due care to prepare another ship at its own expense, except in cases of exemption, where the shipper bears the cost; the carrier earns the full freight if the goods arrive.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على الناقل إذا توقفت السفينة عن مواصلة السفر أيًّا كان السبب, بذل العناية اللازمة لإعداد سفينة أخرى لنقل البضائع إلى الميناء المتفق عليه وتحمل المصروفات الناشئة عن ذلك, إلا إذا كان توقف السفينة راجعاً إلى حالات الإعفاء من المسؤولية المنصوص عليها في النظام، فتكون المصروفات في هذه الحالة على الشاحن, ويستحق الناقل الأجرة المتفق عليها عن الرحلة كاملة إذا وصلت البضاعة إلى الميناء المتفق عليه.
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 199 explained in plain English
This article regulates the ship's stopping before continuing the voyage in a contract of carriage of goods.
First: the carrier's duty. If the ship stops for any reason, the carrier must exercise due care to prepare another ship to carry the goods to the agreed port. The duty here is to exercise care, not to achieve a result.
Second: the expenses.
- The rule: the carrier bears the expenses arising from this.
- The exception: if the stoppage is due to the cases of exemption from liability set out in the Law, the expenses are borne by the shipper. This article does not list those cases.
Third: the freight. The carrier is entitled to the agreed freight for the whole voyage if the goods reach the agreed port.
The idea is that the shipper is concerned that the goods arrive, so the carrier must seek to deliver them by a substitute ship, and who pays the cost depends on the cause of the stoppage.
It follows Article 198 on deck loading and is followed by Article 200, which requires the shipper to deliver the goods at the agreed place and time and caps compensation for delay at the amount of the freight. Anyone whose goods were delayed because the ship stopped is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A ship carrying a merchant's goods from Jeddah to an Asian port broke down midway. The carrier exercises care to prepare a substitute ship and carries the goods at its own expense, unless the breakdown is one of the cases of exemption set out in the Law, and it is entitled to the full freight if the goods arrive.
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 199 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What must the carrier do if the ship stops during the voyage?
Exercise due care to prepare another ship to carry the goods to the agreed port.
Who bears the expenses of the substitute ship?
The carrier, unless the stoppage is due to the cases of exemption from liability set out in the Law, in which case the shipper bears them.
Is the carrier entitled to the full freight?
Yes, if the goods reach the agreed port.
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.