Article 289 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 289 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: الخسارة البحرية
The article provides that a claim for contribution to the general average is not heard after two years from the ship's arrival at the designated port or the port where the voyage was interrupted, and that appointing the settlement expert interrupts the period.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لا تسمع دعوى الاشتراك في الخسارة المشتركة بعد مضي سنتين من يوم وصول السفينة إلى الميناء الذي كان معيناً لوصولها أو إلى الميناء الذي انقطعت فيه الرحلة البحرية.
2- ينقطع سريان المدة المشار إليها في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة -بالإضافة إلى الأسباب المقررة نظاماً- بتعيين خبير التسوية، وفي هذه الحالة تسري مدة جديدة, مقدارها سنتان من تاريخ التوقيع على تسوية الخسارة المشتركة أو من التاريخ الذي تخلى فيه خبير التسوية عن إجرائها.
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 289 explained in plain English
This article sets the period for a claim for contribution to the general average:
- The period: two years.
- Start of counting: from the day the ship arrives at the port that was designated for its arrival, or at the port where the sea voyage was interrupted.
Interruption of the period (Paragraph 2): its running is interrupted, in addition to the causes established by law, by the appointment of the settlement expert. In that case a new period of two years runs, starting from:
- the date the general average settlement is signed, or
- the date the settlement expert gives up carrying it out.
The practical benefit is that a settlement may take a long time, so rights holders are not harmed by waiting for it: a full new period begins for them after the settlement is signed or the expert gives it up. The article does not state the other causes established by law for interrupting the period.
Article 288 provides that there is no joint liability among those obliged to contribute to the general average. To calculate the period in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime cases.
Practical example
A ship reached the port of Jeddah after a general average, and six months later an expert was appointed to settle it, and he signed the settlement after a year. The first period is interrupted by the appointment of the expert, and a new period of two years begins from the date the settlement is signed.
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 289 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
How long do I have to bring a claim for contribution to the general average?
It is not heard after two years from the day the ship arrives at the port designated for its arrival or the port where the voyage was interrupted.
Does appointing the settlement expert affect the period?
Yes. The running of the period is interrupted by appointing the settlement expert, and a new period of two years runs from the date the settlement is signed or the expert gives up carrying it out.
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.