Article 208 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 208 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
If the person entitled does not appear to receive the goods, or refuses to take them or to pay the freight, the carrier may ask the court for permission to deposit or sell them, and has a privilege over their price.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا لم يحضر صاحب الحق لتسلم البضائع, أو حضر وامتنع عن تسلمها أو عن أداء أجرة النقل أو غيرها من المبالغ الناشئة عن النقل، جاز للناقل أن يطلب من المحكمة المختصة الإذن بإيداع البضائع عند أمين تعينه المحكمة، ويجوز للناقل كذلك طلب الإذن ببيع البضائع كلها أو بعضها لاستيفاء المبالغ المستحقة على صاحب البضاعة.
2- يكون للناقل حق امتياز على ثمن البضائع لاستيفاء أجرة النقل وغيرها من المبالغ التي تستحق له بسبب النقل.
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 208 explained in plain English
This article deals with the case where the goods are not received on arrival.
The cases:
- if the person entitled does not appear to receive the goods;
- if he appears and refuses to receive them;
- if he refuses to pay the freight or other amounts arising from the carriage.
What the carrier may do:
- ask the competent court for permission to deposit the goods with a custodian appointed by the court;
- ask for permission to sell all or part of the goods to recover the amounts owed by their owner.
Note that deposit and sale are only with the court's permission; the carrier does not act on his own.
The carrier's privilege: the carrier has a privilege over the price of the goods to recover the freight and other amounts due to him because of the carriage. He is therefore ranked ahead of others in recovering his right from the price.
It follows Article 207, which regulates competition among holders of copies of the bill of lading. It is followed by Article 209, which determines when the carrier's responsibility for the goods begins and ends. Anyone who is late in receiving his goods is advised to act promptly and to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A shipment arrived at Jeddah port and the importer did not appear to receive it despite being notified, and did not pay the freight due on arrival. The carrier asked the court for permission to deposit it with a custodian, then for permission to sell part of it, and recovered the freight from the price with priority.
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 208 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What does the carrier do if the owner of the goods does not take delivery?
He asks the competent court for permission to deposit them with a custodian it appoints, or for permission to sell all or part of them to recover the amounts owed.
May the carrier sell the goods himself?
No. The sale is with the permission of the competent court.
Does the carrier have priority over the price of the goods?
Yes. He has a privilege over their price to recover the freight and other amounts due because of the carriage.
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.