Article 284 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 284 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: الخسارة البحرية
The Article puts the settlement of joint loss in the hands of one or more experts appointed by the parties concerned, failing which the court of the last port of discharge appoints them, or the court of the ship's port of registry if that port is outside the Kingdom.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يسوّي الخسارة المشتركة خبير (أو أكثر) يعينه ذوو الشأن, فإن لم يعينوه تعينه المحكمة المختصة التي يقع في نطاقها آخر ميناء للتفريغ. أما إذا كان هذا الميناء موجوداً خارج المملكة فيكون الاختصاص للمحكمة التي يقع في نطاقها ميناء تسجيل السفينة.
2- يجوز للخبراء الاستعانة بغيرهم في تأدية مهمتهم.
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 284 explained in plain English
This Article specifies who carries out the settlement of the joint loss, that is, calculating each party's share:
- The principle: it is settled by one or more experts appointed by the parties concerned themselves.
- If they do not appoint one: he is appointed by the competent court in whose area the last port of discharge lies.
- If the last port of discharge is outside the Kingdom: jurisdiction belongs to the court in whose area the ship's port of registry lies.
Paragraph 2 allows the experts to seek the help of others in performing their task, given the many technical assessments the settlement may require.
This Article applies the principle of Article 283, which distributes joint loss among all the parties concerned in the voyage. Article 285 regulates what happens if not everyone accepts the settlement: it must be presented to the competent court for approval at the request of one of them, and if it refuses approval it appoints one or more experts for a new settlement. Anyone who needs an expert appointed, or to object to an appointment, may consult a lawyer specializing in maritime matters.
Practical example
A joint loss occurred on a Saudi ship registered in the port of Jeddah, its last port of discharge was outside the Kingdom, and the parties concerned did not agree on an expert. The appointment of the expert is for the court in whose area the port of Jeddah lies as the ship's port of registry.
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 284 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Who appoints the expert to settle the joint loss?
The parties concerned appoint him, and if they do not, the competent court in whose area the last port of discharge lies appoints him.
What if the last port of discharge is outside the Kingdom?
Jurisdiction belongs to the court in whose area the ship's port of registry lies.
May the expert seek the help of others?
Yes. The experts may seek the help of others in performing their task.
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.