Article 321 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 321 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الأول: الأحكام العامة
The article requires notifying the insurer of the wish to abandon by judicial notice, registered letter or any means establishing knowledge, within three months of learning of the accident or from the dates in Articles 336 and 349.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على المؤمن له أن يبلغ المؤمِّن برغبته في الترك بإعلان قضائي أو بخطاب مسجل أو بأي طريقة أخرى يتحقق بها العلم. ويجب أن يحصل الإبلاغ خلال ثلاثة أشهر من تاريخ علم المؤمن له بالحادث الذي يجيز له الترك أو من التاريخ المنصوص عليه في المادتين (السادسة والثلاثين بعد الثلاثمائة) و(التاسعة والأربعين بعد الثلاثمائة) من النظام.
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 321 explained in plain English
This article regulates the method and time limit for notifying the wish to abandon.
Method of notification: the insured notifies the insurer of his wish to abandon by one of the following means:
- A judicial notice, or
- A registered letter, or
- Any other means that establishes knowledge.
Time limit for notification: notification must be made within three months of:
- The date the insured learned of the accident that entitles him to abandon, or
- The date stated in Articles 336 and 349.
Article 336 concerns abandonment of the ship; among its cases are that no news of it is received for three months after the last news and it is presumed lost on the date that news arrived, and the case of its capture, detention or arrest by order of the authorities where the insurance covers war risks and the insured could not recover it within four months of notifying the insurer. Article 349 concerns abandonment of goods; among its cases are that no news of the ship is received for three months, that the ship is unfit to sail and the goods cannot be carried on within three months of notification, and that the goods are not placed at the insured's disposal within four months in the cases of capture and detention where the insurance covers war risks.
Article 320 sets out the effects of abandonment, while Article 322 requires the insured, when giving notice, to declare all insurance contracts he made or knows to exist. To calculate the time limit, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in insurance.
Practical example
A shipowner learns of the total loss of his ship in a maritime accident that entitles him to abandon. He must notify the insurer of his wish to abandon by registered letter or any means that establishes knowledge, within three months of the date he learned of the accident.
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 321 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
How do I notify the insurance company of my wish to abandon?
By judicial notice, by registered letter, or by any other means that establishes knowledge.
What is the time limit for notifying abandonment?
Three months from the date the insured learned of the accident that entitles him to abandon, or from the date stated in Articles 336 and 349.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 336
The article lists the cases in which the ship may be abandoned to the insurer: total loss, repair or salvage costs of three quarters of its value, no news for three months, irreparable damage, and war cases.
1- يجوز للمؤمن له ترك السفينة للمؤمن في الحالات الآتية: أ- إذا هلكت كليًّا. ب- إذا كانت نفقات إصلاحها أو إنقاذها تعادل على الأقل ثلاثة أرباع قيمتها المبينة في و
- Article 349
The article sets the cases for abandoning goods to the insurer: no news of the ship for three months, unseaworthiness with impossible carriage, damage of three quarters of value, sale due to damage, and war cases.
1- يجوز للمؤمن له ترك البضائع للمؤمن في الحالات الآتية: أ- إذا انقطعت أنباء السفينة مدة ثلاثة أشهر بعد وصول آخر نبأ عنها وافتُرِضَ هلاكها في تاريخ وصول ذلك النب
More articles on Marine Insurance
- Article 139
Ships carrying the Kingdom's nationality are not permitted to sail to areas dominated by the dangers of war, piracy or armed robbery until proof of insurance of their crew against these dangers is provided.
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
- Article 215
Any agreement made before the incident that exempts the carrier from liability for loss of or damage to the goods, alters the burden of proof placed on him, or assigns to him the rights arising from cargo insurance is void.
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
The article allows a maritime insurance policy to be issued in the name of the insured, to his order or to bearer, and gives its lawful holder the right to claim compensation, subject to the insurer's defenses against the insured.
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.