Article 366 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 366 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الأول: القطر البحري
The article makes the towing ship responsible for damage to the towed ship, unless it was due to force majeure or an unforeseen event, a cause attributable to the towed ship or its defect, or the fault of its operator, master or crew.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تكون السفينة القاطرة هي المسؤولة عن الضرر الذي يصيب السفينة المقطورة, إلاَّ إذا كان ذلك بسبب قوة قاهرة أو حادث طارئ، أو لسبب يرجع إلى السفينة المقطورة أو عيب ذاتي فيها، أو خطأ مجهزها أو ربانها أو أحد أفراد طاقمها.
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 366 explained in plain English
This article sets the rule of the towing ship's responsibility for damage to the towed ship:
The rule: the towing ship is responsible for this damage.
Cases of exemption: the towing ship is not liable if the damage was due to:
- Force majeure or an unforeseen event.
- A cause attributable to the towed ship itself, or an inherent defect in it.
- The fault of the operator of the towed ship, its master, or one of its crew members.
So responsibility is presumed on the towing ship, and to be relieved of it one of the stated grounds of exemption must be proved.
Note that this article deals with damage to the towed ship itself, not damage to third parties, and that its grounds of exemption include external causes such as force majeure and unforeseen events, and causes attributable to the towed ship or those working on it.
Article 365 provides that towage services are performed under a contract between the master or operator of the towing ship and the master or operator of the towed ship, and Article 367 provides that a claim arising from the towage operation is not heard after two years from its end. To assess responsibility in a particular incident, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime cases.
Practical example
A ship's hull is damaged while being towed to the port of Jeddah. The tug is responsible for the damage, unless it is proved that it was due to a storm amounting to force majeure, or an old corrosion in the hull of the towed ship, or a fault by its master or crew.
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 366 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Is the tug responsible for damage to the ship it tows?
Yes, the towing ship is responsible for damage to the towed ship, except in the cases of exemption stated in the article.
When is the tug exempt from responsibility?
If the damage was due to force majeure or an unforeseen event, a cause attributable to the towed ship or an inherent defect in it, or the fault of its operator, master or a member of its crew.
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تترتب المسؤولية المنصوص عليها في هذا الفصل, إذا وقع التصادم بخطأ المرشد، ولو كان الإرشاد إجباريًّا، وذلك مع عدم الإخلال بالقواعد العامة في المسؤولية.
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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.