Article 215 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 215 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
Any agreement made before the incident that exempts the carrier from liability for loss of or damage to the goods, alters the burden of proof placed on him, or assigns to him the rights arising from cargo insurance is void.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقع باطلاً كل اتفاق يتم قبل وقوع الحادث الذي نشأ عنه الضرر, ويكون موضوعه أحد الأمور الآتية:
1- إعفاء الناقل من المسؤولية عن هلاك البضائع أو تلفها.
2- تعديل عبء الإثبات الذي يضعه النظام على عاتق الناقل.
3- التنازل للناقل عن الحقوق الناشئة عن التأمين على البضائع.
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 215 explained in plain English
This article protects the shipper from unfair terms in sea carriage contracts. It voids any agreement made before the incident that caused the damage if its subject is one of the following:
- exempting the carrier from liability for loss of or damage to the goods;
- altering the burden of proof that the Law places on the carrier;
- assigning to the carrier the rights arising from insurance of the goods.
Any term of these kinds inserted in the contract or the bill of lading before the incident occurs has no effect.
Note the restriction "before the incident occurs"; agreements made after the incident, such as settlements, are not covered by this voidness.
The voidness also covers the offending term; the article does not state its effect on the rest of the contract.
It follows Article 214, which prevents the carrier from limiting liability if the shipper declared the nature and value of the goods before loading. It is followed by Article 216, which allows the carrier to waive his rights and exemptions or increase his liability provided this is stated in the bill. Anyone who finds a term in the bill of lading that exempts the carrier is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A bill of lading contained a printed term saying that the carrier is not liable for any damage to the goods whatever its cause. This term is void because it is an agreement made before the incident that exempts the carrier from liability for damage.
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 215 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Is a term exempting the carrier from liability in the bill of lading valid?
No. Any agreement made before the incident that exempts the carrier from liability for loss of or damage to the goods is void.
Which terms are void in a sea carriage contract?
Agreements made before the incident that exempt the carrier from liability for loss or damage, alter the burden of proof placed on him, or assign to him the rights arising from cargo insurance.
Does the voidness cover a settlement after the incident?
The article concerns agreements made before the incident occurs.
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.