Article 205 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 205 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
The master must deliver the goods on arrival to the lawful holder of the bill of lading or his representative in receiving them.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على الربان تسليم البضائع عند وصولها إلى الحامل الشرعي لسند الشحن أو من ينوب عنه في تسلمها.
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 205 explained in plain English
This article sets out to whom the goods are delivered on arrival: the master must deliver them to:
- the lawful holder of the bill of lading, or
- his representative in receiving them.
The test is lawful holding of the bill of lading, not a mere claim to own the goods. The person who holds the bill in the proper way is the one entitled to receive.
The importance of this rule is that a bill of lading may pass between several persons during the voyage, so the lawful holder on arrival is the person entitled, and not necessarily the original shipper or the consignee named first.
The goods may be received by a representative of the lawful holder, such as the cargo agent, whom Article 1 defines as the person who acts for the owners of the goods in receiving them on arrival.
It follows Article 204, which makes the shipper liable for damage arising from his act or a defect in his goods. It is followed by Article 206, which makes delivery of a copy of the bill of lading to the carrier a presumption that the goods were delivered to the person entitled to them unless the contrary is proved. Anyone facing a dispute over delivery of goods is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A ship arrived at Jeddah port carrying goods whose bill of lading was issued to the order of a company in Riyadh, which then endorsed it to another merchant. The master delivers the goods to that merchant as the lawful holder of the bill, or to the cargo agent acting for him.
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 205 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
To whom does the master deliver the goods on arrival?
To the lawful holder of the bill of lading or his representative in receiving them.
May an agent receive the goods for their owner?
Yes. The goods may be delivered to the lawful holder's representative in receiving them.
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.