Article 286 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 286 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: الخسارة البحرية
The article gives the master the right to refuse to deliver goods that must be included in the general average unless their owner provides sufficient security for his share, and refers disagreement over the security to the court.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للربان الامتناع عن تسليم البضائع التي يجب أن تُدرج في الخسارة المشتركة, إلاَّ إذا قدم صاحبها ضماناً كافياً لدفع نصيبه من الخسارة المشتركة، فإن لم يتفق الطرفان على الضمان عرض الأمر على المحكمة المختصة لتقديره.
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 286 explained in plain English
This article gives the master a practical means of securing collection of general average shares: refusing to deliver the goods that must be included in the general average.
- When is the refusal lifted? If the owner of the goods provides sufficient security to pay his share of the general average.
- If there is disagreement over the security: if the parties do not agree on the security, the matter is submitted to the competent court to assess it.
The owner of the goods is not deprived of them permanently; he can take delivery once he provides sufficient security. If he considers the security demanded of him exaggerated, the solution is to submit the matter to the court to assess it.
The article does not specify the type of security. Article 285 regulates submitting the settlement to the court for ratification if not everyone accepts it, and Article 287 provides that debts arising from general average are privileged debts, with the shipowner's privilege falling on the goods saved or their price. Anyone whose goods have been withheld for this reason may consult a lawyer specialized in maritime cases.
Practical example
A ship reached the port of Jeddah after a general average, and the master refused to deliver the goods of a company in Riyadh until it provided security for its share. The company considered the amount demanded exaggerated and the parties did not agree, so the matter is submitted to the competent court to assess the security.
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 286 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Can the master refuse to deliver my goods because of a general average?
Yes. He may refuse to deliver goods that must be included in the general average unless their owner provides sufficient security to pay his share.
Who decides the security if we do not agree on it?
The matter is submitted to the competent court to assess it.
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.