Article 231 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 231 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
If the voyage becomes impossible for a reason not attributable to the carrier, the contract is terminated and the fare refunded; if attributable to the carrier, half the fare is due as compensation; after an interruption of over three days the passenger may terminate on conditions.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا تعذر السفر بسبب لا يرجع إلى الناقل فسخ العقد دون تعويض، وفي هذه الحالة يلتزم الناقل برد أجرة السفر. وإن ثبت أن المانع من السفر يرجع إلى فعل الناقل التزم بتعويض يعادل نصف الأجرة, ويفترض أنَّ تعذر السفر راجع إلى فعل الناقل حتى يقوم الدليل على غير ذلك.
2- إذا توقف السفر لمدة تتجاوز ثلاثة أيام، جاز للراكب فسخ العقد مع إلزام الناقل بالتعويض المناسب عند الاقتضاء، ويعفى الناقل من التعويض إذا أثبت أن سبب توقف السفر غير راجع إليه. ولا يجوز الفسخ إذا قام الناقل بنقل الراكب إلى مكان الوصول المتفق عليه في ميعاد معقول, وعلى سفينة من المستوى نفسه.
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 231 explained in plain English
This article deals with the voyage becoming impossible or being interrupted for reasons relating to the voyage rather than the passenger.
First: the voyage becomes impossible.
- If it is impossible for a reason not attributable to the carrier: the contract is terminated without compensation, and the carrier must refund the travel fare.
- If it is proved that the impediment is attributable to the carrier's act: the carrier must pay compensation equal to half the fare.
- A presumption in favor of the passenger: the impossibility of the voyage is presumed to be attributable to the carrier's act until proof to the contrary is established.
Second: the voyage is interrupted.
- If the voyage is interrupted for more than three days, the passenger may terminate the contract, and the carrier must pay appropriate compensation where required.
- The carrier is exempt from compensation if it proves that the cause of the interruption is not attributable to it.
- Termination is not permitted if the carrier transports the passenger to the agreed place of arrival within a reasonable time and on a ship of the same standard.
It follows from Article 230, which precedes it, that circumstances relating to the passenger personally have no effect once the voyage has begun; this article, by contrast, concerns the circumstances of the voyage itself. It is followed by Article 232, which allows the passenger to terminate the contract if the carrier makes a material change to the schedule, route or ports of call. Affected passengers are advised to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime law.
Practical example
A carrier canceled a ferry trip from Jeddah and did not prove that the cancellation was for a reason not attributable to it. The impossibility is presumed to be its doing, so it must refund the fare and pay compensation equal to half of it.
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 231 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Do I get the fare back if the sea trip is canceled?
Yes. If the voyage becomes impossible for a reason not attributable to the carrier, the contract is terminated and the carrier must refund the fare.
When does the carrier pay compensation for a canceled voyage?
If the impediment is attributable to its act, it must pay compensation equal to half the fare, and this is presumed until proof to the contrary.
Can I terminate the contract if the voyage is interrupted?
If the voyage is interrupted for more than three days, unless the carrier carries you to the place of arrival within a reasonable time on a ship of the same standard.
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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 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.