Article 240 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 240 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
Claims for death or injury are not heard after two years, claims for death occurring after leaving the ship due to an accident during carriage after three years from leaving, and claims for delay in arrival after six months.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لا تسمع دعوى تعويض الضرر الناشئ عن وفاة الراكب أو إصابته بعد مضي سنتين بدءًا من اليوم التالي لمغادرة الراكب السفينة في حالة الإصابة البدنية, أو من اليوم الذي كان يجب أن يغادر فيه الراكب السفينة في حالة الوفاة أثناء تنفيذ عقد النقل.
2- إذا وقعت الوفاة بعد مغادرة الراكب السفينة، وبسبب حادث وقع أثناء تنفيذ عقد النقل, فلا تسمع الدعوى بعد مضي ثلاث سنوات من تاريخ مغادرة الراكب السفينة.
3- لا تسمع دعوى تعويض الضرر الناشئ عن تأخير الوصول بعد مضي ستة أشهر من اليوم التالي لمغادرة الراكب السفينة.
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 240 explained in plain English
This article sets the periods after which passenger claims are not heard, which differ according to the type of harm:
First: death or injury. The claim is not heard after two years, running:
- For bodily injury: from the day after the passenger leaves the ship.
- For death during performance of the contract of carriage: from the day on which the passenger should have left the ship.
Second: death after leaving. If the death occurs after the passenger has left the ship and is due to an accident that occurred during performance of the contract of carriage, the claim is not heard after three years from the date the passenger left the ship.
Third: delay in arrival. A claim for compensation for harm arising from delay in arrival is not heard after six months from the day after the passenger leaves the ship.
Note that the period for a delay claim is much shorter than for death and injury claims, so a person harmed by delay should act promptly.
It is preceded by Article 239, which makes the carrier liable for harm from delay unless it proves the external cause. It is followed by Article 241, which allows the carrier's agents and servants to rely on the defenses, the liability provisions and the bar on hearing claims that apply to the carrier, if they prove that the act occurred in the course of, or by reason of, their duties. Injured passengers or their heirs are advised to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime law and compensation before the periods expire.
Practical example
A passenger on a ship was injured and left it on 1 March 2025, and arrived two days late. The injury claim must be brought before 2 March 2027, while the claim for compensation for delay must be brought before 2 September 2025.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCivil Litigation & Compensation lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Abdullah Al-Saleh Law Office for Law and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 240 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
How long do I have to bring a claim for an injury on a ship?
Two years, starting from the day after the passenger leaves the ship.
What is the period for a death claim where death occurs after leaving the ship?
If the death occurs after leaving due to an accident during performance of the contract of carriage, the claim is not heard after three years from the date of leaving.
What is the period for a claim for compensation for delay in arrival?
Six months from the day after the passenger leaves the ship.
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 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.