Article 346 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 346 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: التأمين على البضائع
The article requires ships carrying oil from or to the Kingdom to carry a civil liability insurance certificate covering liability for any damage arising from the carriage.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تلتزم السفن التي تنقل الزيت من المملكة أو إليها بحمل شهادة تأمين المسؤولية المدنية؛ لتغطية ما قد ينشأ من مسؤولية عن أي ضرر ناشئ عن عملية النقل.
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 346 explained in plain English
This article places a mandatory obligation on a specific category of ships:
- Who is addressed? Ships that carry oil from or to the Kingdom.
- What is required? That they carry a civil liability insurance certificate.
- The purpose: to cover any liability for any damage arising from the carriage operation.
Under Article 1, oil includes crude petroleum, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil, lubricating oil and other petroleum derivatives. So the obligation is not limited to crude oil tankers, but covers all ships carrying any of these substances from or to the Kingdom.
Note that the text ties the insurance to liability for any damage arising from the carriage operation, without limiting it to a particular type of damage. The article does not specify the amount of cover required or the body that issues the certificate.
Article 345 extends the marine insurance provisions to transport that completes the voyage, while Article 347 sets the ceiling on the sum insured on goods. Anyone who operates ships carrying oil can consult a lawyer specialized in maritime cases.
Practical example
A foreign tanker is preparing to load heavy diesel oil from the port of Ras Tanura to a foreign port. It must carry a civil liability insurance certificate to cover any liability that may arise for any damage arising from the carriage operation.
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 346 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Must oil tankers carry insurance in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, ships carrying oil from or to the Kingdom must carry a civil liability insurance certificate.
What is meant by oil here?
Under Article 1: crude petroleum, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil, lubricating oil and other petroleum derivatives.
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- 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.