Article 349 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 349 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: التأمين على البضائع
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 النبأ.
ب- إذا أصبحت السفينة غير صالحة للملاحة خلال الرحلة، واستحال نقل البضائع بأي طريقة أخرى إلى مكان الوصول المتفق عليه خلال ثلاثة أشهر من تاريخ قيام المؤمن له بإبلاغ المؤمِّن بعدم صلاحية السفينة للملاحة.
ج- إذا هلكت البضائع, أو تلفت بما يعادل ثلاثة أرباع قيمتها المبينة في وثيقة التأمين على الأقل.
د- إذا بيعت البضاعة أثناء الرحلة بسبب إصابتها بتلف مادي متى نشأ الضرر عن خطر يشمله التأمين.
2- إذا كان التأمين يشمل أخطار الحرب جاز للمؤمن له استعمال حقه في ترك البضائع في حالة أسر السفينة أو احتجازها أو إيقافها بأمر من السلطات العامة, وذلك إذا لم توضع البضائع تحت تصرف المؤمن له خلال أربعة أشهر من تاريخ قيامه بإبلاغ المؤمن بوقوع الحادث.
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 349 explained in plain English
This article sets out the cases in which the insured may abandon the goods to the insurer:
Paragraph 1:
- No news of the ship for three months after the last news of it arrived, and it is presumed lost on the date that news arrived.
- If the ship becomes unseaworthy during the voyage, and it is impossible to carry the goods by any other means to the agreed place of arrival within three months of the insured notifying the insurer that the ship is unseaworthy.
- If the goods are lost or damaged to the extent of at least three quarters of their value stated in the policy.
- If the goods are sold during the voyage because of physical damage to them, where the damage arose from a risk covered by the insurance.
Paragraph 2: war risks: if the insurance covers war risks, abandonment is permitted in case of capture of the ship, its detention or its stoppage by order of the public authorities, if the goods are not placed at the insured's disposal within four months of his notifying the insurer of the incident.
Note that the second case combines two conditions: the ship's unseaworthiness, and the impossibility of carriage by another means within the period. Article 348 sets how losses to goods are estimated when settled by compensation, while Article 350 sets what a floating policy must contain.
Practical example
A ship carrying goods insured for a company in Riyadh breaks down and becomes unseaworthy at an intermediate port, and the company notifies the insurer. If it is impossible to carry the goods by any other means to the place of arrival within three months of the notification, it may abandon the goods to the insurer.
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 349 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
When may goods be abandoned to the insurance company?
When there is no news of the ship for three months, or it is unseaworthy and carrying the goods by another means is impossible within three months of notification, or the goods are lost or damaged to at least three quarters of their value, or sold during the voyage because of physical damage from an insured risk.
May goods be abandoned if the authorities detain the ship?
If the insurance covers war risks, abandonment is permitted if the goods are not placed at the insured's disposal within four months of his notifying the insurer of the incident.
More articles on Marine Insurance
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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
- 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.