Article 363 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 363 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الأول: القطر البحري
The article gives management of towage within ports to the master of the towed ship, whose operator answers for damages; by written agreement it may go to the tug's master, whose operator answers unless he proves the damage came from the towed ship.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تكون إدارة عملية القطر داخل حدود الموانئ لربان السفينة المقطورة، ويسأل مجهز هذه السفينة عن جميع الأضرار التي تحدث أثناء القطر.
2- يجوز باتفاق كتابي ترك إدارة عملية القطر داخل حدود الموانئ لربان السفينة القاطرة، وفي هذه الحالة يسأل مجهز السفينة القاطرة عن الأضرار التي تحدث أثناء عملية القطر, إلا إذا أثبت أن الضرر نشأ عن السفينة المقطورة.
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 363 explained in plain English
This article regulates the towage operation within port limits, and identifies who manages it and who answers for its damages:
The rule (paragraph 1):
- Management of the towage is for the master of the towed ship.
- The operator of the towed ship answers for all damages that occur during the towage.
The exception by written agreement (paragraph 2):
- It is permitted, by written agreement, to leave management of the towage to the master of the towing ship.
- In that case the operator of the towing ship answers for the damages, unless he proves that the damage arose from the towed ship.
So the rule ties responsibility to whoever manages the operation. Note that transferring management to the tug requires writing; an oral agreement is not enough on the wording of the text.
The operator under Article 1 is the person who operates the ship for his own account as owner, charterer or manager of the co-ownership. Article 364 reverses this rule outside port limits, making management by default for the tug's master. Anyone contracting for towage services may consult a lawyer specialized in maritime cases.
Practical example
A cargo ship enters the port of Jeddah and uses a tug to bring it to the quay, with no written agreement on management. Management is for the master of the towed ship, and its operator answers for any damage that occurs during the towage. Had they agreed in writing that the tug's master would run the operation, the tug's operator would answer, unless he proved that the damage arose from the towed ship.
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 363 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Who manages the towage operation inside the port?
The master of the towed ship, unless it is agreed in writing to leave management to the master of the towing ship.
Who bears the damages of towage inside the port?
The operator of the towed ship for all damages; if management passes by written agreement to the tug, its operator answers unless he proves that the damage arose from the towed ship.
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على الربان أن يتولى بنفسه قيادة السفينة عند دخولها الموانئ، أو خروجها منها أو أثناء اجتياز الممرات البحرية، وكذلك في جميع الأحوال التي تعترض الملاحة عقبات خاصة،
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تجري الجهة المختصة تحقيقاً بناء على طلب مكتوب من أي دولة, في أي مخالفة للقواعد الدولية المطبقة من أجل منع تلوث البيئة البحرية يدَّعى أن سفينة سعودية ارتكبتها في
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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.
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.