Article 255 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 255 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الأول: التصادم البحري
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تترتب المسؤولية المنصوص عليها في هذا الفصل, إذا وقع التصادم بخطأ المرشد، ولو كان الإرشاد إجباريًّا، وذلك مع عدم الإخلال بالقواعد العامة في المسؤولية.
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 255 explained in plain English
This Article answers a practical question: what if the collision occurs because of the pilot's fault and not the fault of the ship's master or crew?
The Article provides that the liability set out in this chapter arises in this case too. Among these provisions are the rules on apportioning liability in Article 254 according to the fault of each ship.
Most importantly, the Article provides this even if pilotage is compulsory. A ship cannot argue that it did not choose the pilot but had him imposed on it in order to escape liability for the collision.
The Article ends with the phrase without prejudice to the general rules of liability, meaning that this provision does not displace the general rules that may apply to the incident. The Article does not set out the details of those rules or the relationship between the ship and the pilot after compensation is paid; that requires examining the particular incident, and it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime matters.
Practical example
A commercial ship entered the port of Dammam with a compulsory pilot on board, and the pilot made an error in directing it so that it hit a ship at anchor. Liability for the collision arises under the provisions of this chapter even though the fault was the pilot's and pilotage was compulsory.
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 255 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Is the ship liable for a collision if the fault was the pilot's?
Yes. The liability set out in the collision chapter arises if the collision occurs through the pilot's fault.
Does the rule differ if pilotage is compulsory?
No. The Article provides that liability arises even if pilotage is compulsory, without prejudice to the general rules of liability.
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 254
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.
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 أسبا
- 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.