Article 281 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 281 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: الخسارة البحرية
The Article provides that expenses incurred to collect the share of a party who has not paid his contribution to the joint loss are themselves accepted in the joint loss.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا لم يدفع أحد من ذوي الشأن نصيبه المطلوب منه للإسهام في الخسارة المشتركة, فإن المصروفات التي تنفق للحصول على ذلك تقبل في الخسارة 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 281 explained in plain English
One of the parties concerned may refuse to pay the share required of him to contribute to the joint loss, so the others are forced to spend sums to obtain it.
This Article provides that the expenses incurred to obtain that share are accepted in the joint loss. That is, they are added to the joint loss and distributed among the parties concerned, instead of being borne by the one who spent them alone.
The reason is that collecting the shares serves all those with interests, because the settlement is not complete until everyone's shares are gathered. The Article does not state the nature or amount of these expenses; reference is made to what was actually spent on collection.
Article 280 explains how the debit and credit groups are formed, while Article 282 regulates a practical guarantee that reduces the need for this, namely depositing the sums provided by cargo owners to guarantee their contribution in a joint account at a bank agreed by the parties, from which nothing is paid out or returned except with written permission from the person carrying out the final settlement. Anyone facing a party's refusal to pay may consult a lawyer specializing in maritime matters.
Practical example
One of the cargo owners on a ship that arrived in Dammam refused to pay his share of the joint loss, so the operator was forced to spend sums to obtain it. These expenses are accepted in the joint loss and distributed among the parties concerned.
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 281 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Who bears the expenses of collecting a share of the joint loss?
The expenses incurred to obtain the share of the party who did not pay his portion are accepted in the joint loss.
Can cargo owners' payment of their shares be secured?
Article 282 regulates depositing the sums provided by cargo owners to guarantee their contribution in a joint account at a bank agreed by the parties.
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.