Article 237 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 237 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
Any agreement made before the accident is void if it exempts the carrier from liability toward the passenger, the heirs or dependents, alters the burden of proof on the carrier, or assigns the passenger's insurance rights to the carrier.
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 تجاه الراكب, أو ورثته, أو من يعولهم.
2- تعديل عبء الإثبات الذي يضعه النظام على عاتق الناقل.
3- التنازل للناقل عن الحقوق الناشئة عن التأمين على الراكب.
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 237 explained in plain English
This article protects the passenger from unfair terms in a contract for the carriage of persons by sea. It makes void every agreement made before the accident that caused the harm, if its subject is:
- Exempting the carrier from liability toward the passenger, the heirs or those the passenger supported.
- Altering the burden of proof that the law places on the carrier.
- Assigning to the carrier the rights arising from the passenger's insurance.
So if a travel ticket contains a term saying the carrier is not liable for any injury, or a term shifting to the passenger the burden of proof that the law places on the carrier, that term is void.
Note the limitation "before the accident": agreements made after the accident, such as an amicable settlement, are not caught by this nullity.
It is preceded by Article 236, which requires the carrier to insure its liability for death and injuries and allows the injured party to claim directly against the insurer. An advance agreement for the passenger to give up insurance rights is therefore not permitted. It is followed by Article 238, which requires the carrier to be notified in writing of an injury within fifteen days of leaving the ship. A person who finds a term of this kind is advised to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime law.
Practical example
A ferry travel ticket states that the passenger exempts the carrier from any liability for injuries. If the passenger is injured, this term is disregarded because it is an agreement made before the accident that exempts the carrier from liability.
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 237 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Is a term exempting the carrier in a travel ticket valid?
No. Every agreement made before the accident is void if it exempts the carrier from liability toward the passenger, the heirs or those the passenger supported.
Can a passenger give up insurance rights in advance?
No. Every agreement made before the accident is void if it assigns to the carrier the rights arising from the passenger's insurance.
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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.