Article 277 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 277 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: الخسارة البحرية
The Article excludes from joint loss the loss of or damage to goods for which no bill of lading or receipt was issued by the carrier or his representative, and requires these goods to contribute to the loss if saved.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يُقبل في الخسارة المشتركة الهلاك أو التلف الذي يلحق البضائع التي لم يصدر في شأنها سند شحن أو إيصال من الناقل أو من ينوب عنه، وتسهم هذه البضائع في الخسارة المشتركة إذا أنقذت.
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 277 explained in plain English
This Article shows the importance of documenting goods with a bill of lading or a receipt. Goods for which no bill of lading or receipt was issued by the carrier or his representative are treated specially:
- If lost or damaged: their loss or damage is not accepted in the joint loss, and their owner bears it.
- If saved: they contribute to the joint loss, that is, bear their share of it like other property that was saved.
So the provision works in one direction only: these goods bear the burden of the joint loss when they are safe, but do not benefit from it when they are lost.
A bill of lading, according to Article 1, is a document issued by the carrier at the shipper's request on receiving the goods from him, setting out the particulars of the carriage and its terms. The practical lesson for the shipper is to ask for a bill of lading or receipt when handing over his goods.
Article 276 regulates the rule for goods loaded on deck, and Article 278 provides that goods declared at less than their value contribute to the loss at their real value and are accepted in it only at the declared value.
Practical example
A merchant loaded goods on a ship heading to Dammam without obtaining a bill of lading or receipt. The master threw part of the goods into the sea to save the ship, and the merchant's goods were among them, so their loss is not accepted in the joint loss. Had they been saved, they would have had to contribute 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 277 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Are goods without a bill of lading compensated in the joint loss?
The loss of or damage to goods for which no bill of lading or receipt was issued by the carrier or his representative is not accepted in the joint loss.
Do these goods contribute to the loss if saved?
Yes. They contribute to the joint loss if they are saved.
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 273
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.
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 ناشئ
- 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.
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.