Article 283 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 283 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: الخسارة البحرية
The Article provides that joint loss is distributed among all the parties concerned in the maritime voyage.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
توزع الخسارة المشتركة بين جميع ذوي الشأن في الرحلة البحرية.
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 283 explained in plain English
This Article sets the basic principle of joint loss in a single sentence: joint loss is distributed among all the parties concerned in the maritime voyage.
Joint loss, according to Article 1, is any sacrifice or extraordinary expenses decided on by the master, made or incurred deliberately and in a reasonable manner, for the common safety to avoid an imminent danger threatening the ship or the goods on it. Because the sacrifice was made in everyone's interest, it is fair that the one on whom it fell not bear it alone, and that all those with interests in the voyage share it.
The phrase all the parties concerned means that the distribution is not limited to the owner of the thing sacrificed or to the ship's owner, but includes everyone with an interest in the voyage.
This Article does not state the method of calculation, but Article 282 regulates guaranteeing the contribution of cargo owners by depositing sums in a joint account, and Article 284 puts the settlement of the joint loss in the hands of one or more experts appointed by the parties concerned or by the competent court.
Practical example
The master of a ship heading to the port of Jeddah threw one merchant's containers into the sea to save the ship from sinking. This merchant does not bear the loss alone; it is distributed among all the parties concerned in the voyage, such as the ship's owner and the owners of other goods.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCommercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 283 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Who bears joint marine loss?
Joint loss is distributed among all the parties concerned in the maritime voyage.
Who settles the joint loss?
Under Article 284, one or more experts appointed by the parties concerned settle it, and if they do not appoint one, the competent court appoints him.
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.