Article 314 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 314 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الأول: الأحكام العامة
The article sets the insured's obligations: paying the premium and expenses at the agreed place and time, exercising reasonable care to preserve the thing insured, and giving accurate particulars and reporting increased risks within his knowledge.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يلتزم المؤمن له بما يأتي:
1- أن يدفع قسط التأمين والمصروفات في المكان والزمان المتفق عليهما.
2- أن يبذل العناية المعقولة للمحافظة على الشيء المؤمن عليه.
3- أن يعطي بياناً صحيحاً عند التعاقد بالظروف التي يعلم بها التي من شأنها تمكين المؤمِّن من تقدير الأخطار التي يجري التأمين عليها وأن يطلعه أثناء سريان العقد على ما يطرأ من زيادة في هذه الأخطار؛ وذلك في حدود علمه بها.
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 314 explained in plain English
This article brings together the insured's basic obligations in three:
- Paying the premium and expenses: at the agreed place and time.
- Care of the thing insured: exercising reasonable care to preserve it. Having insurance does not mean neglecting the thing insured.
- Disclosure:
- On contracting: giving accurate particulars of the circumstances he knows of that would enable the insurer to assess the risks being insured.
- While the contract is in force: informing the insurer of any increase in these risks that arises.
Article 315 regulates the effect of non-payment of the premium, allowing the insurer to terminate the contract, with termination taking effect only thirty days after the insured is warned to perform and notified of the termination. Article 313 allows agreement to exempt the insurer from compensation within limits set by the contract.
Practical example
A company in Jeddah insured goods stored at a port before shipping. It must pay the premium at the agreed time and place, exercise reasonable care to preserve the goods, and inform the insurer of any increase in risk it knows of while the contract is in force.
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 314 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What are the insured's obligations in maritime insurance?
Paying the premium and expenses at the agreed place and time, exercising reasonable care to preserve the thing insured, and giving accurate particulars on contracting and informing the insurer of increased risks within his knowledge.
Must I disclose things I do not know?
No. The obligation to give particulars and inform is within the insured's knowledge.
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لا يصرح للسفن التي تحمل جنسية المملكة بالسفر إلى المناطق التي تغلب عليها أخطار الحرب, أو أعمال القرصنة أو السطو المسلح, إلا بعد تقديم مالكها أو مجهزها أو مستأجر
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يقع باطلاً كل اتفاق يتم قبل وقوع الحادث الذي نشأ عنه الضرر, ويكون موضوعه أحد الأمور الآتية: 1- إعفاء الناقل من المسؤولية عن هلاك البضائع أو تلفها. 2- تعديل عبء
- Article 236
The carrier must hold insurance or a guarantee from a recognized body covering its liability for death and bodily injury, and the injured party may claim directly against the insurer or guarantor.
يجب أن يكون لدى الناقل تأمين أو ضمان من جهة معترف بها، لتغطية مسؤوليته عن الوفاة والإصابات البدنية. وفي هذه الحالة يجوز للمتضرر الرجوع المباشر على المؤمن أو الض
- Article 293
The article provides that the maritime insurance provisions apply to an insurance contract covering maritime risks, without prejudice to the Law on Supervision of Cooperative Insurance Companies.
دون إخلال بالأحكام الواردة في نظام مراقبة شركات التأمين التعاوني, تسري أحكام هذا الباب على عقد التأمين الذي يكون موضوعه تغطية الأخطار البحرية.
- Article 294
The article requires a maritime insurance contract and any change to it to be proved in writing, sets the particulars of the insurance policy, and makes a provisional policy binding on both parties until the final policy is issued.
1- لا يثبت عقد التأمين وكل ما يطرأ عليه إلاَّ بالكتابة. 2- يصدر بموجب عقد التأمين وثيقة تأمين تتضمن البيانات الآتية: أ- تاريخ عقد التأمين ومكانه. ب- اسم المؤمِّ
- Article 295
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1- تكون وثيقة التأمين باسم المؤمن له أو لأمره، أو لحاملها. 2- يكون لحامل الوثيقة الشرعي الحق في المطالبة بالتعويض, وللمؤمِّن أن يحتج في مواجهته بالدفوع التي يجو
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.