Article 246 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 246 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
The carrier is liable for loss of or damage to unregistered baggage kept by the passenger if its fault is proved; things deposited with the master or the deposit keeper are excluded from the compensation limits.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يسأل الناقل عن هلاك أو تلف الأمتعة غير المسجلة التي يحتفظ بها الراكب إذا ثبت أن الضرر يرجع إلى خطأ الناقل, أو من ينوب عنه أو إلى تابعيه.
2- لا تسري الحدود المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الخامسة والأربعين بعد المائتين) على الأشياء التي يودعها الراكب لدى الربان، أو عند الشخص المكلف بحفظ الودائع في السفينة, متى أبلغه بأهمية المحافظة عليها بوصفها ذات قيمة مادية أو معنوية.
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 246 explained in plain English
This article deals with two matters:
First: unregistered baggage that the passenger keeps, such as hand baggage. The carrier is liable for its loss or damage if it is proved that the harm is due to the fault of the carrier, its representative or its servants. Its liability here rests on proved fault, not merely on the occurrence of harm.
Second: things deposited for safekeeping. The limits set out in paragraph 1 of Article 245 (22,500 accounting units for registered baggage inside the cabin and 12,700 units for other baggage) do not apply to things that the passenger deposits:
- with the master, or
- with the person responsible for keeping deposits on the ship,
provided the passenger has informed them of the importance of safeguarding them as having material or sentimental value. If this notice is not given, the condition for the exception is not met.
The practical benefit is that a person carrying valuable items can deposit them with the master or the deposit keeper while informing them of their value, and the compensation is then not limited by the limits in Article 245. In assessing compensation in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime law.
Practical example
Noura deposited a gold necklace with the person responsible for keeping deposits on the ship, and told them it was valuable and had sentimental value to her. If the necklace is lost, the compensation is not limited by the limits in paragraph 1 of Article 245.
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 246 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Is the carrier liable for a passenger's hand baggage that goes missing?
The carrier is liable for its loss or damage if it is proved that the harm is due to the fault of the carrier, its representative or its servants.
How do I protect my valuables on the ship?
If you deposit them with the master or the person responsible for keeping deposits and inform them of the importance of safeguarding them for their material or sentimental value, the compensation limits in paragraph 1 of Article 245 do not apply to them.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Passenger Carriage and Maritime Tourist Cruises
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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.