Article 287 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 287 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: الخسارة البحرية
The article makes general average debts privileged: the shipowner's over the goods saved or their price, and the cargo owners' over the ship saved, its freight and accessories, with settlement expenses ranking first.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تعد الديون الناشئة عن الخسارة المشتركة ديوناً ممتازة, ويقع حق الامتياز هذا فيما يتعلق بالمبالغ المستحقة لمجهز السفينة على البضائع التي أُنقذت أو الثمن المتحصل من بيعها. أما بالنسبة إلى المبالغ المستحقة لأصحاب البضائع فيقع حق الامتياز على السفينة التي أُنقذت وأجرتها وتوابعها، وتكون لمصروفات تسوية الخسارة المشتركة الأولوية على ما عداها من الديون.
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 287 explained in plain English
This article gives debts arising from general average the character of privileged debts, meaning they are paid ahead of other claims out of the property on which the privilege falls. The property subject to the privilege differs according to the creditor:
- Amounts owed to the shipowner: the privilege falls on the goods that were saved or the price obtained from selling them.
- Amounts owed to the cargo owners: the privilege falls on the ship that was saved, its freight and its accessories.
The article adds that the expenses of settling the general average have priority over all other debts.
Under Article 1, the shipowner (operator) is the person who operates the ship for his own account as owner, charterer or managing co-owner.
This privilege complements the right Article 286 gives the master to refuse to deliver the goods until their owner provides sufficient security. Article 288 provides that there is no joint liability among those obliged to contribute to the general average. The article does not specify the rank of this privilege compared with other privileged debts on the ship. Anyone claiming a debt of this kind may consult a lawyer specialized in maritime cases.
Practical example
After a general average, one of the cargo owners is owed a sum by the ship's operator because his goods were sacrificed. The cargo owner has a privilege over the ship that was saved, its freight and its accessories to collect this sum, and the expenses of settling the loss are paid ahead of other debts.
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 287 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Are general average debts privileged?
Yes. Debts arising from general average are privileged debts.
On what property does the shipowner's privilege fall?
On the goods that were saved or the price obtained from selling them.
What has priority in payment?
The expenses of settling the general average have priority over all other debts.
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.