Article 273 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 273 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: الخسارة البحرية
The Article limits what is accepted in joint loss to physical damage to the ship or cargo and sums spent on them arising directly from the master's sacrifice or expenses, excluding damage from delay and indirect damage.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا تقبل في الخسارة المشتركة إلاَّ الأضرار المادية التي تصيب السفينة أو البضائع الموجودة عليها, والمبالغ التي تنفق من أجلها، بشرط أن تكون الأضرار أو المبالغ ناشئة مباشرة عن التضحية التي قرر الربان بذلها أو المصروفات التي تحملها، أما الأضرار الناشئة عن التأخير -كتعطيل السفينة- والأضرار غير المباشرة -كفرق أسعار البضائع- فلا تقبل في الخسائر المشتركة.
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 273 explained in plain English
This Article specifies what enters the calculation of joint loss and what does not.
What is accepted:
- Physical damage to the ship or the cargo on it.
- The sums spent on them.
on condition that this damage or these sums arise directly from the sacrifice the master decided to make or the expenses he incurred.
What is not accepted:
- Damage arising from delay, which the text illustrates with the ship's demurrage.
- Indirect damage, which the text illustrates with differences in the price of goods.
If the master threw part of the cargo into the sea to save the ship, the value of the cargo thrown enters the joint loss. But a cargo owner's loss because its market price fell due to its late arrival does not enter into it.
Article 272 presumes that a loss is particular and places the burden of proving it is joint on whoever claims so, and then Article 274 provides that the loss remains joint even if the incident occurred through the fault of one of the parties concerned.
Practical example
Fire broke out on a ship heading to Dammam, and the master ordered one hold flooded with water to extinguish it, damaging goods in it, and the ship's arrival was delayed a week. Damage to the goods from the water enters the joint loss, but the losses from the delay and the fall in the goods' market price do not.
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 273 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What damage enters the joint loss?
Physical damage to the ship or the cargo on it and the sums spent on them, if they arise directly from the sacrifice the master decided on or the expenses he incurred.
Does the ship's delay enter the joint loss?
No. Damage arising from delay, such as the ship's demurrage, is not accepted in joint loss.
Is a difference in the price of goods compensated in joint loss?
No. Indirect damage such as differences in the price of goods is not accepted in it.
More articles on General Average
- Article 202
Freight is payable for goods that the master decides to throw into the sea or sacrifice to save the ship or the cargo, subject to the general average provisions.
تستحق أجرة النقل عن البضائع التي يقرر الربان إلقاءها في البحر أو التضحية بها بأي صورة أخرى لإنقاذ السفينة أو الشحنة، مع مراعاة أحكام الخسائر البحرية المشتركة ال
- Article 271
The Article provides that marine loss is governed first by the parties' agreement, then by this chapter's provisions, then by maritime custom where there is neither agreement nor provision.
تسري على الخسارة البحرية التي لم يرد في شأنها اتفاق خاص بين ذوي الشأن؛ الأحكام المنصوص عليها في هذا الفصل, فإن لم يكن هناك اتفاق أو نص في هذا الفصل فتطبق القواع
- Article 272
The Article divides marine loss into joint and particular, presumes a loss is particular unless the person claiming it is joint proves otherwise, and places particular loss on the owner of the damaged thing or whoever bore the expenses, with a right of recourse.
1- تكون الخسارة البحرية إما مشتركة وإما خاصة. 2- يفترض أن الخسارة خاصة, وعلى من يدعي أن الخسارة مشتركة إثبات ذلك. 3- يتحمل الخسارة البحرية الخاصة مالك الشيء الذ
- Article 274
The Article provides that a loss remains joint even if the incident that caused it occurred through the fault of one of the parties concerned in the voyage, with the others' right of recourse against the party at fault preserved.
تعد الخسارة مشتركة حتى لو وقع الحادث الذي نتجت عنه بخطأ أحد ذوي الشأن في الرحلة، وذلك دون إخلال بحق ذوي الشأن الآخرين في الرجوع على من صدر منه الخطأ.
- Article 275
The Article treats as joint loss expenses incurred in place of other expenses that would have been accepted in the loss had they been incurred, provided they do not exceed the expenses not incurred.
تعد خسارة مشتركة المصروفات التي أنفقت بدلاً من مصروفات أخرى كانت تقبل في الخسارة لو أنها أنفقت, بشرط ألاَّ تجاوز المصروفات التي لم تنفق.
- Article 276
The Article includes the value of goods loaded on deck in joint loss if saved, and allows their owner to claim jettisoned or damaged goods as joint loss only in specified cases, except in coastal navigation.
فيما عدا الملاحة الساحلية بين موانئ المملكة, تدخل قيمة البضائع التي تشحن على سطح السفينة في الخسارة المشتركة إذا أنقذت، أما إذا ألقيت في البحر, أو أتلفت فلا يجو
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.