Article 227 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 227 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
A passenger carrier must make the ship seaworthy and fit for the agreed voyage and keep it so throughout the trip, and must provide the necessary meals, comfort facilities and toilets appropriate to the voyage.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يلتزم الناقل بإعداد السفينة وتجهيزها بما يلزم لتكون صالحة للملاحة ولتنفيذ السفر المتفق عليه. ويلتزم كذلك بإبقاء السفينة على هذه الحال طوال مدة السفر, وأن يوفر الوجبات الغذائية اللازمة, ومرافق الراحة, ودورات المياه بشكل مناسب للرحلة.
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 227 explained in plain English
This article sets out the carrier's obligations toward passengers in a contract for the carriage of persons by sea:
First: fitness of the ship.
- Preparing and equipping the ship as needed so that it is seaworthy and fit to perform the agreed voyage.
- Keeping it in that condition throughout the voyage, not only at departure.
Second: passenger comfort. The carrier must provide, in a manner appropriate to the voyage:
- The necessary meals.
- Comfort facilities.
- Toilets.
The phrase "in a manner appropriate to the voyage" means that the required standard varies with the nature and length of the voyage; a short trip does not need what a voyage lasting several days needs.
Under Article 1, a passenger is any person carried by the ship other than the master, the crew and those working on board.
It is preceded by Article 226, which allows a substitute document for the travel ticket on small ships or within the port. It is followed by Article 228, which requires the passenger to appear at the time and place stated in the ticket, failing which the passenger remains liable for the fare. A passenger who was not given these services is advised to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime law.
Practical example
Abdullah traveled with his family on a ferry for a two-day voyage. The carrier must keep the ship seaworthy throughout the voyage and provide meals, comfort facilities and toilets suited to a voyage of that length.
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 227 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What are the carrier's obligations toward ship passengers?
To make the ship seaworthy and fit for the agreed voyage and keep it so throughout, and to provide meals, comfort facilities and toilets appropriate to the voyage.
Must the carrier provide food for passengers?
Yes, the carrier must provide the necessary meals in a manner appropriate to the voyage.
More articles on Passenger Carriage and Maritime Tourist Cruises
- Article 105
The master records births and deaths in the official logbook and follows the civil status rules, inventories a deceased person's belongings with an officer and hands them over at the first Saudi port, and may put off a person with a contagious disease at the nearest port.
1- إذا حدثت ولادة أو وفاة أثناء السفر وجب على الربان إثبات هذه الوقائع في دفتر الوقائع الرسمي للسفينة، واتباع الإجراءات المنصوص عليها في الأنظمة الخاصة بالأحوال
- Article 225
A contract for carrying persons by sea is proved by a document called a travel ticket, which states the carrier, passenger, ship, ports, fare and class of accommodation; the ticket cannot be assigned to another person without the carrier's consent.
1- يثبت عقد نقل الأشخاص بحراً بمحرر يسمى تذكرة السفر، يذكر فيها على وجه خاص: أ- اسم الناقل, واسم الراكب, وجنسيته. ب- تاريخ إصدار تذكرة السفر. ج- اسم السفينة, وج
- Article 226
A travel ticket may be replaced by a document stating the carrier's name and services if the ship's tonnage is no more than twenty tons or it operates within the port or in areas set by the maritime authorities.
يجوز أن تستبدل بتذكرة السفر وثيقة أخرى يبين فيها اسم الناقل والخدمات التي يلتزم بتأديتها، وذلك إذا كانت حمولة السفينة الكلية لا تزيد على عشرين طناً، أو كانت الس
- Article 228
A passenger must appear at the time and place stated in the travel ticket; if the passenger fails to appear or is late, the passenger remains liable to pay the fare.
يجب على الراكب الحضور في الميعاد والمكان المبينين في تذكرة السفر, فإن تخلف عن الحضور, أو تأخر عن الميعاد المحدد, ظل ملزماً بدفع الأجرة.
- Article 229
If the passenger dies or is prevented from traveling, the contract is terminated and the full fare is refunded provided the carrier is notified in good time; otherwise the carrier is entitled to a quarter of the fare. This also applies to the passenger's family and dependents.
إذا توفي الراكب أو قام مانع يحول دون سفره فسخ العقد واسترجعت الأجرة كاملة, بشرط أن يبلغ الراكب أو ورثته الناقل بذلك قبل الميعاد المعين للسفر بوقت مناسب وفق ما ت
- Article 230
Once the voyage has begun, circumstances relating to the passenger personally have no effect on the obligations arising from the contract of carriage.
إذا بدأ السفر فلا يكون للظروف المتعلقة بشخص الراكب أثر فيما يرتبه العقد من التزامات.
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.