Article 290 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 290 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: التحقيق في الحوادث البحرية
The article makes the competent authority responsible for investigating maritime accidents in the Kingdom's maritime zones and, for Saudi-flagged ships, on the high seas, involving loss of life, serious injury or damage, and for cooperating with other states.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تتولى الجهة المختصة التحقيق في الحوادث البحرية التي تقع في مناطق المملكة البحرية والتي تقع في أعالي البحار إذا كانت السفينة ترفع علم المملكة ونتج عن الحادث خسارة في الأرواح أو إصابات خطيرة للأشخاص، أو أضرار مادية تلحق بالسفينة، أو أي منشأة عائمة أخرى أو بالبيئة البحرية.
2- تتعاون الجهة المختصة مع الجهات المعنية في الدول الأخرى في أي تحقيق تجريه تلك الدول في أي حادث بحري من هذا النوع يكون قد ارتكب من سفينة سعودية بالاشتراك مع سفينة تابعة لدولة أخرى أو في مناطقها 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 290 explained in plain English
This article sets the scope of investigation of maritime accidents carried out by the competent authority.
Accidents covered (Paragraph 1):
- Accidents that occur in the Kingdom's maritime zones.
- Accidents that occur on the high seas if the ship flies the Kingdom's flag.
On condition that the accident results in one of the following: loss of life, serious injury to persons, material damage to the ship or any other floating installation, or damage to the marine environment.
International cooperation (Paragraph 2): the competent authority cooperates with the relevant authorities in other states in any investigation those states conduct into a maritime accident of this kind, if it was committed by a Saudi ship jointly with a ship belonging to another state or in its maritime zones.
The article does not name the competent authority or the investigation procedures. Article 291 provides that the competent authority carries out an investigation at the written request of any state into pollution prevention violations attributed to a Saudi ship in its maritime zones.
Practical example
A fire breaks out on a ship flying the Kingdom's flag on the high seas, and a number of its crew are seriously injured. The competent authority in the Kingdom investigates this accident even though it occurred outside the Kingdom's maritime zones, because the ship flies its flag.
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 contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 290 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Who investigates maritime accidents in Saudi Arabia?
The competent authority investigates maritime accidents that occur in the Kingdom's maritime zones, and on the high seas if the ship flies the Kingdom's flag, when they result in the specified losses, injuries or damage.
Does the Kingdom cooperate with other states in investigations?
Yes. The competent authority cooperates with other states in their investigations of accidents committed by a Saudi ship jointly with a ship belonging to another state or in its maritime zones.
More articles on Collision and Maritime Salvage
- Article 111
The master submits a report on unusual incidents to the Authority within 24 hours of arrival; the Authority verifies it and draws up a record, and the master may not unload the affected cargo before the report except in extreme necessity.
1- إذا طرأت أثناء الرحلة حوادث غير عادية تتعلق بالسفينة أو بالركاب أو بالشحنة وجب على الربان أن يعد تقريراً بذلك يقدمه إلى الهيئة خلال أربع وعشرين ساعة من وصول
- Article 254
The article specifies who bears compensation for a maritime collision according to its cause: fault of one ship, force majeure or an unknown cause, or common fault, and sets out the cases of joint liability toward third parties.
1- إذا حدث تصادم بسبب خطأ إحدى السفن التزمت السفينة المحدثة للضرر بالتعويض الذي يترتب على هذا التصادم. 2- إذا وقع التصادم بسبب قوة قاهرة، أو كان هناك شك في أسبا
- Article 255
The Article provides that the liability set out in the collision chapter also arises if the collision occurs through the pilot's fault, even if pilotage is compulsory, without prejudice to the general rules of liability.
تترتب المسؤولية المنصوص عليها في هذا الفصل, إذا وقع التصادم بخطأ المرشد، ولو كان الإرشاد إجباريًّا، وذلك مع عدم الإخلال بالقواعد العامة في المسؤولية.
- Article 256
The Article requires the master of each ship involved in a collision to help the other ships and those aboard without endangering his own ship, and to give them his ship's particulars; the shipowner is liable only on his express instructions.
1- على ربان كل سفينة من السفن التي حدث تصادم بينها أن يبادر إلى مساعدة السفن الأخرى وبحارتها وغيرهم من الأشخاص الموجودين عليها، وذلك بالقدر الذي لا يعرض سفينته
- Article 257
The Article lists the courts before which a claimant may bring a maritime collision action, and allows arbitration agreements provided it takes place within the area of one of these courts, as the claimant chooses.
1- للمدعي إقامة الدعوى الناشئة عن التصادم البحري أمام إحدى المحاكم الآتية: أ- المحكمة التي يقع في نطاق اختصاصها موطن المدعى عليه، أو مقر عمله الرئيس. ب- المحكمة
- Article 258
The Article bars hearing a collision compensation action after two years from the incident and a recourse action after one year from the death, and suspends the periods if the ship cannot be arrested and the claimant is Saudi or domiciled in the Kingdom.
1- لا تسمع الدعوى بالتعويض الناشئة عن التصادم بعد مضي سنتين من تاريخ وقوع الحادث. 2- لا تسمع دعوى الرجوع المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (5) من المادة (الرابعة والخمسين
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.