Article 230 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 230 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
Once the voyage has begun, circumstances relating to the passenger personally have no effect on the obligations arising from the contract of carriage.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا بدأ السفر فلا يكون للظروف المتعلقة بشخص الراكب أثر فيما يرتبه العقد من التزامات.
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 230 explained in plain English
This article sets a time limit on the effect of the passenger's personal circumstances on the contract: once the voyage has begun, circumstances relating to the passenger personally have no effect on the obligations arising from the contract.
This means that personal circumstances arising for the passenger after the trip has begun do not change the parties' obligations. For example, a passenger cannot claim a refund of part of the fare because the passenger decided to disembark at an intermediate port for a personal reason.
This differs from Article 229, which allows the contract to be terminated and the full fare recovered if the passenger dies or an impediment prevents the passenger from traveling, provided the carrier is notified in good time before the date. That article concerns what happens before the voyage, while this article concerns what happens after it has begun.
Together the two rules draw the line: before the voyage, personal circumstances have an effect under the conditions of Article 229; after it begins, they have none.
Note that the article speaks only of circumstances relating to the passenger personally. Circumstances relating to the voyage itself or to the carrier are governed by Article 231, which deals with the voyage becoming impossible or being interrupted.
A passenger who faces a circumstance during the voyage is advised to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime law to learn the passenger's rights.
Practical example
Fahd sailed on a ship from Jeddah to a foreign port, and midway decided to disembark at an intermediate port for a family reason. This personal circumstance has no effect on his obligations under the contract of carriage.
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 230 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Do I get part of the fare back if I leave the ship early for a personal reason?
Once the voyage has begun, circumstances relating to the passenger personally have no effect on the obligations arising from the contract.
What is the difference between the passenger's circumstances before and after the voyage?
Before the voyage, Article 229 governs termination and refund of the fare in case of death or an impediment; after the voyage has begun, personal circumstances have no effect on the contract's obligations.
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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 227
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.
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 ا
- 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
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.