Article 268 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 268 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: الإنقاذ البحري
The Article allows the court to reduce or cancel the salvage reward if the salvors committed faults that made the salvage necessary, or committed thefts, concealed stolen items, or committed other fraud.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للمحكمة أن تقضي بتخفيض المكافأة أو بإلغائها إذا تبين أن القائمين بالإنقاذ البحري قد ارتكبوا أخطاء جعلت الإنقاذ لازماً، أو إذا ارتكبوا سرقات, أو أخفوا أشياء مسروقة, أو وقع منهم غير ذلك من أعمال الغش.
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 268 explained in plain English
The reward is a right of the salvor, but this Article ties that right to his good conduct. The court may reduce or cancel the reward if it is shown that those carrying out the maritime salvage:
- committed faults that made the salvage necessary, that is, they were the cause of the need for salvage.
- committed thefts.
- concealed stolen items.
- committed other acts of fraud.
The idea is that someone who by his fault caused the danger, or who exploited the salvage operation to take what is not his, should not be fully rewarded for what he did. The court has the power to choose between reduction and cancellation according to the seriousness of what occurred.
This Article complements Article 267, which sets the bases the court considers in determining the reward. Article 269 also sets the period after which an action to claim the reward is not heard at two years from the end of the salvage operations. This Article does not deal with any criminal penalty for theft or fraud, only their effect on the reward.
Practical example
A ship helped tow a disabled boat to the port of Jeddah, and it was then discovered that some of its sailors had taken equipment from the boat and hidden it. The court may reduce the salvage reward or cancel it because of that.
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 268 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Can a marine salvor be deprived of the reward?
Yes. The court may reduce or cancel the reward if the salvors committed faults that made the salvage necessary, or thefts, or concealed stolen items, or committed fraud.
What if the salvor himself caused the danger?
If it is shown that he committed faults that made the salvage necessary, the court may reduce or cancel his reward.
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 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
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.