Article 279 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 279 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: الخسارة البحرية
The Article provides that seamen's and passengers' baggage with no bill of lading or receipt, and mail, do not contribute to joint loss if saved, and are accepted in it at their estimated value.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أمتعة البحارة وأمتعة الراكبين التي لم يصدر في شأنها سند شحن أو إيصال من الناقل أو من ينوب عنه, وكذلك رسائل البريد على اختلاف أنواعها لا تسهم في الخسارة المشتركة إذا أُنقذت، وتقبل في هذه الخسارة بقيمتها التقديرية.
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 279 explained in plain English
This Article sets a rule in favor of a specific class of things on the ship, namely:
- seamen's baggage for which no bill of lading or receipt was issued by the carrier or his representative.
- passengers' baggage for which no bill of lading or receipt was issued likewise.
- mail of whatever kind.
The rule for these things is twofold:
- If saved: they do not contribute to the joint loss, so their owners bear no share of it.
- If sacrificed or damaged: they are accepted in the joint loss at their estimated value, so their owners benefit from the distribution.
Note the difference between this rule and that for goods declared at less than their value in Article 278, where those goods contribute on the basis of their real value and are accepted only at the declared value. Article 280 also explains how the debit and credit groups are formed in the joint loss and the basis for valuing the ship, the freight, and the goods in them.
Practical example
One of the seamen was carrying his personal bag on the ship without a receipt from the carrier. A joint loss occurred and the bag was saved, so he is not asked to contribute to the loss on its account. Had it been damaged because of the sacrifice, it would be accepted in the joint loss at its estimated value.
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 279 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Does a passenger contribute to the joint loss with his baggage?
Passengers' baggage for which no bill of lading or receipt was issued by the carrier does not contribute to the joint loss if saved.
At what value is this baggage accepted in the joint loss?
At its estimated value.
What is the rule for mail?
Mail of whatever kind does not contribute to the joint loss if saved, and is accepted in it at its estimated value.
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.