Article 342 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 342 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: التأمين على الأجرة
The article requires the insurer, where the insurance covers seamen's wages and expenses, their repatriation and expected profits, to compensate damage caused by an insured maritime risk if the claimant proves the damage relates to the subject of the insurance.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا كان محل التأمين أجور البحارة ونفقاتهم وإعادتهم إلى أوطانهم والأرباح المتوقعة, التزم المؤمِّن بتعويض الضرر الناشئ عن أي خطر بحري يدخل في التأمين إذا أثبت المدعي أن الضرر يتعلق بمحل التأمين.
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 342 explained in plain English
This article regulates insurance whose subject is:
- Seamen's wages.
- Their expenses.
- Their repatriation.
- Expected profits.
In this case the insurer must compensate the damage arising from any maritime risk covered by the insurance.
The burden of proof: the claimant must prove that the damage relates to the subject of the insurance. The occurrence of a maritime risk is not enough; the link between the damage and what was insured must be proved, for example by proving that the wages or expenses were actually incurred because of the risk.
Under Article 1, a seaman is a person bound by a maritime employment contract, and maritime risks are unforeseen accidents that may occur in connection with a sea voyage.
Article 341 regulates insurance of assistance and salvage rewards and refloating costs, while Article 343 provides that insurance on goods is made by a single-voyage policy or a floating policy. To assess whether there is a link between the damage and the subject of the insurance, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in insurance and maritime cases.
Practical example
The operator of a ship in Dammam insures the cost of repatriating seamen. The ship is disabled in a foreign port because of an insured maritime risk, so he has to send its crew home by air. The insurer must compensate these expenses if the operator proves that the damage relates to the subject of the insurance.
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 342 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Can seamen's wages and repatriation expenses be insured?
Yes, and the insurer must compensate the damage arising from any maritime risk covered by the insurance if the claimant proves that the damage relates to the subject of the insurance.
Who must prove the damage?
The claimant must prove that the damage relates to the subject of the insurance.
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.