Article 331 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 331 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: التأمين على السفينة
The article requires the insurer, apart from damage to persons, to pay the compensation the insured owes to third parties when the insured ship collides with another ship or strikes a fixed, moving or floating object.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
عدا الضرر الذي يصيب الأشخاص, يلتزم المؤمِّن بدفع التعويضات التي تترتب على المؤمن له قِبَل الغير في حالة تصادم السفينة المؤمن عليها بسفينة أخرى أو ارتطامها بشيء ثابت أو متحرك أو عائم.
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 331 explained in plain English
This article extends ship insurance cover to the insured's liability to third parties in two cases:
- The insured ship colliding with another ship.
- Its striking a fixed, moving or floating object, such as a quay, an installation or a floating body.
In these two cases the insurer must pay the compensation the insured owes to third parties.
The exception: this obligation does not include damage to persons. The cover here is for damage to third parties' property, such as the other ship or the installation, not for death or bodily injury.
Under Article 1, maritime collision is a collision between two or more ships, or between a ship and any maritime installation.
Article 330 excludes from the insurer's liability the damage from natural wear, inherent defect that is not hidden, and the master's intentional faults, while Article 332 regulates when the ship insurance premium falls due according to whether the insurance is for a voyage or a period. To assess cover in a particular accident, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in insurance and maritime cases.
Practical example
An insured ship belonging to a company in Jeddah strikes a quay in the port and damages it, and a worker on the quay is injured. The insurer must pay the compensation the company owes for the damage to the quay, while the worker's injury is not covered by this article.
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 331 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Does ship insurance cover the other ship's damage in a collision?
Yes. The insurer must pay the compensation the insured owes to third parties when the insured ship collides with another ship or strikes a fixed, moving or floating object.
Does this include injuries to persons?
No. The article excludes damage to persons.
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.