Article 253 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 253 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد النقل البحري : أولاً: أحكام عامة
The article provides that the provisions of the Convention on Multimodal Transport of Goods between Arab States, and its amendments, apply to multimodal transport contracts.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تطبق على عقود النقل المتعدد الوسائط أحكام اتفاقية النقل متعدد الوسائط للبضائع بين الدول العربية, وتعديلاتها.
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 253 explained in plain English
This article determines the rules that govern multimodal transport contracts, by referring to the Convention on Multimodal Transport of Goods between Arab States and its amendments.
To understand the article it helps to refer to the definitions in Article 1:
- Multimodal transport contract: the contract the shipper concludes with the multimodal transport operator for carrying goods by two or more different modes of transport between two places located in one or more States, under which the operator takes over the goods and has them in its custody until the place of delivery, and performs the carriage itself or through others, for a fee.
- Multimodal transport operator: the person who concludes this contract itself or through someone it appoints, and acts as a principal.
- Multimodal transport document: the document that evidences the contract and the operator's taking over of the goods and its obligation to deliver them on specified terms.
So if a consignment is to be carried, for example, by sea and then by land under a single contract, that contract is governed by the provisions of the Arab convention mentioned. The article does not set out the content of those provisions, so the text of the convention and its amendments should be consulted to learn them. A person who concludes or disputes a contract of this kind may consult a lawyer specialized in commercial and international transport cases.
Practical example
A company in Riyadh contracted with a transport operator, under a single contract, to carry its goods from a foreign port to the port of Dammam by sea, then by trucks to its warehouse in Riyadh. This is a multimodal transport contract, so the provisions of the Convention on Multimodal Transport of Goods between Arab States and its amendments apply to 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 253 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What law governs a multimodal transport contract in Saudi Arabia?
The provisions of the Convention on Multimodal Transport of Goods between Arab States and its amendments apply to it.
What is meant by multimodal transport?
Under Article 1, it is the carriage of goods by two or more different modes of transport under a contract the shipper concludes with the multimodal transport operator, with the goods in the operator's custody until the place of delivery.
More articles on Carriage of Goods by Sea and the Bill of Lading
- Article 115
If the master must repair the ship during the voyage, the shipper may wait or take out the goods while paying full freight, with no increase in freight; if repair is not possible, the master hires a substitute ship at his own expense.
1- إذا اضطر الربان إلى إصلاح السفينة أثناء السفر، كان للمستأجر أو الشاحن الخيار بين الانتظار حتى إتمام إصلاح السفينة أو إخراج بضائعه منها، وفي هذه الحالة الأخير
- Article 121
The shipping agent is liable to shippers or consignees for loss of or damage to goods when loaded or unloaded only for the agent's own fault or the fault of those working for the agent.
لا يسأل الوكيل الملاحي من قبل الشاحنين أو المرسل إليهم عن هلاك أو تلف البضائع التي يتسلمها لشحنها في السفينة أو التي يتولى تفريغها منها لتسليمها لأصحابها إلا عن
- Article 122
The cargo agent must preserve the rights of the goods' owners against the carrier; otherwise the agent is presumed to have received the goods in the condition and quantity stated in the bill of lading, unless the contrary is proved by an official record.
يجب على وكيل الشحنة اتخاذ الإجراءات والتدابير اللازمة للمحافظة على حقوق أصحاب الشأن في البضاعة قِبَل الناقل أو متعهد النقل، وإلا افترض أنّ الوكيل تسلم البضاعة ف
- Article 124
The provisions limiting the carrier's liability set out in the Law apply to the transport contractor.
تسري على متعهد النقل أحكام تحديد المسؤولية المتعلقة بالناقل المنصوص عليها في النظام.
- Article 155
The lessor of a fully equipped ship is liable for damage to the goods the lessee places on the ship, unless he proves he fully performed his obligations and the damage did not arise from his fault or that of his subordinates.
يسأل مؤجر السفينة المجهزة عن الضرر الذي يصيب البضائع التي يضعها المستأجر في السفينة, إلا إذا أثبت أنه قام بتنفيذ التزاماته كاملة, وأن الضرر لم ينشأ عن تقصيره أو
- Article 179
A contract of carriage by sea can be proved only in writing.
لا يثبت عقد النقل البحري إلا بالكتابة.
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.