Article 254 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 254 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الأول: التصادم البحري
The article specifies who bears compensation for a maritime collision according to its cause: fault of one ship, force majeure or an unknown cause, or common fault, and sets out the cases of joint liability toward third parties.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا حدث تصادم بسبب خطأ إحدى السفن التزمت السفينة المحدثة للضرر بالتعويض الذي يترتب على هذا التصادم.
2- إذا وقع التصادم بسبب قوة قاهرة، أو كان هناك شك في أسبابه, أو لم تعرف هذه الأسباب, تحملت كل سفينة ما أصابها من ضرر ولو كانت السفن التي وقع بينها التصادم أو إحداها راسية وقت وقوع التصادم.
3- إذا وقع التصادم بسبب خطأ مشترك قدرت مسؤولية كل سفينة من السفن التي حدث بينها التصادم بنسبة الخطأ الذي وقع منها. فإن حالت الظروف دون معرفة نسبة الخطأ الذي وقع من كل سفينة وزعت المسؤولية بينها بالتساوي.
4- تسأل السفن التي اشتركت في الخطأ بالنسب نفسها المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (3) من هذه المادة وبلا تضامن بينها تجاه الغير عن الأضرار التي لحقت بالسفن, أو بحمولتها, أو بالأمتعة, أو الأشياء الأخرى الخاصة بالبحارة، أو بأي شخص آخر موجود على السفينة.
5- تكون المسؤولية تجاه الغير بالتضامن إذا ترتب على الخطأ وفاة شخص أو إصابته بدنيًّا بجروح، ويكون للسفينة التي تدفع أكثر من حصتها الرجوع بالزيادة على السفن الأخرى.
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 254 explained in plain English
This article lays down the basic rules for distributing liability for a maritime collision, which under Article 1 is a collision between two or more ships, or between a ship and any maritime installation.
- Fault of one ship: the ship that caused the damage is liable for the compensation resulting from the collision.
- Force majeure or a doubtful or unknown cause: each ship bears the damage it suffered, even if the ships or one of them were at anchor at the time of the collision.
- Common fault: the liability of each ship is assessed in proportion to its fault; if the proportions cannot be determined, liability is divided equally.
- Toward third parties: ships at common fault are liable in the same proportions and without joint liability for damage to ships or their cargo, baggage or the belongings of sailors or of any person on board.
- Death or bodily injury: liability toward third parties is joint, and a ship that pays more than its share may recover the excess from the other ships.
The important difference is that financial damage is distributed without joint liability, whereas for death and injury the injured party may claim the full compensation from any ship. Article 255 provides that this liability also arises if the collision occurs through the fault of the pilot, even if pilotage was compulsory. To assess the proportions of fault in a particular accident, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime law.
Practical example
Two ships collided near the port of Jeddah, and it turned out that the first was 70% at fault and the second 30%. Liability is distributed in those proportions, and each is liable in its proportion, without joint liability, for damage to the goods on the two ships. If a sailor was injured, he may claim the full compensation from either, and the one that paid more than its share may recover from the other.
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 254 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Who pays compensation if two ships collide?
If the fault is of one ship, that ship is liable for the compensation; if it is common fault, each ship's liability is assessed in proportion to its fault, and if the proportions cannot be determined it is divided equally.
What if the collision was caused by force majeure?
Each ship bears the damage it suffered, even if one of them was at anchor at the time of the collision, and likewise if the cause is doubtful or unknown.
When are the ships jointly liable for compensation?
Toward third parties, where the fault results in a person's death or bodily injury; a ship that pays more than its share may recover the excess from the other.
More articles on Collision and Maritime Salvage
- Article 111
The master submits a report on unusual incidents to the Authority within 24 hours of arrival; the Authority verifies it and draws up a record, and the master may not unload the affected cargo before the report except in extreme necessity.
1- إذا طرأت أثناء الرحلة حوادث غير عادية تتعلق بالسفينة أو بالركاب أو بالشحنة وجب على الربان أن يعد تقريراً بذلك يقدمه إلى الهيئة خلال أربع وعشرين ساعة من وصول
- Article 255
The Article provides that the liability set out in the collision chapter also arises if the collision occurs through the pilot's fault, even if pilotage is compulsory, without prejudice to the general rules of liability.
تترتب المسؤولية المنصوص عليها في هذا الفصل, إذا وقع التصادم بخطأ المرشد، ولو كان الإرشاد إجباريًّا، وذلك مع عدم الإخلال بالقواعد العامة في المسؤولية.
- Article 256
The Article requires the master of each ship involved in a collision to help the other ships and those aboard without endangering his own ship, and to give them his ship's particulars; the shipowner is liable only on his express instructions.
1- على ربان كل سفينة من السفن التي حدث تصادم بينها أن يبادر إلى مساعدة السفن الأخرى وبحارتها وغيرهم من الأشخاص الموجودين عليها، وذلك بالقدر الذي لا يعرض سفينته
- Article 257
The Article lists the courts before which a claimant may bring a maritime collision action, and allows arbitration agreements provided it takes place within the area of one of these courts, as the claimant chooses.
1- للمدعي إقامة الدعوى الناشئة عن التصادم البحري أمام إحدى المحاكم الآتية: أ- المحكمة التي يقع في نطاق اختصاصها موطن المدعى عليه، أو مقر عمله الرئيس. ب- المحكمة
- Article 258
The Article bars hearing a collision compensation action after two years from the incident and a recourse action after one year from the death, and suspends the periods if the ship cannot be arrested and the claimant is Saudi or domiciled in the Kingdom.
1- لا تسمع الدعوى بالتعويض الناشئة عن التصادم بعد مضي سنتين من تاريخ وقوع الحادث. 2- لا تسمع دعوى الرجوع المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (5) من المادة (الرابعة والخمسين
- Article 259
The Article obliges the master to follow the rules for directing and navigating ships in the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and their amendments in force in the Kingdom.
يلتزم الربان بقواعد توجيه السفن وقيادتها, التي نصت عليها معاهدة القواعد الدولية لمنع التصادم في البحر لعام 1972م وتعديلاتها النافذة في المملكة.
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.