Article 109 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 109 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: الربان
During the voyage the master must keep on board the documents, certificates and records concerning the ship, the crew, the passengers and the cargo that the Law and international conventions require.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على الربان أن يحتفظ في السفينة أثناء الرحلة بالوثائق والشهادات والسجلات التي تتعلق بالسفينة والبحارة والركاب والشحنة التي يتطلبها النظام والاتفاقيات الدولية التي تكون المملكة طرفاً فيها.
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 109 explained in plain English
This article imposes on the master the duty to keep the ship's documents on board during the voyage. These documents include:
- Documents, certificates and records concerning the ship.
- Those concerning the seafarers.
- Those concerning the passengers.
- Those concerning the cargo.
The test for which documents are required is what is required by the Law and by the international conventions to which the Kingdom is a party. The article does not list these documents by name, so one looks to the other provisions of the Law and to those conventions to identify them.
The person responsible for this duty is the master personally throughout the voyage, not the shipowner from the office. This provision is linked to Article 110, which requires the master to keep the ship's official logbook and present it for endorsement within twenty-four hours of arrival, and to Article 108, which requires the master to inform the shipowner of every matter concerning the ship and the cargo. Shipowners who want to make sure their documents are complete are advised to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime law.
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 109 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Which documents must be kept on board a ship?
The documents, certificates and records concerning the ship, the seafarers, the passengers and the cargo that the Law and the international conventions to which the Kingdom is a party require.
Who is responsible for keeping the ship's documents during the voyage?
The master.
More articles on The Master: Authority and Duties
- Article 100
The ship's operator appoints and dismisses the master, and a dismissed master is entitled to compensation where warranted under the general rules.
يعين مجهز السفينة الربان ويعزله، وللربان في حالة عزله الحق في التعويض إن كان له مقتضى وفقاً للقواعد العامة.
- Article 101
The master alone commands the ship and directs the voyage, the next officer replaces him on his death or absence, and he must observe technical standards, conventions and maritime custom and maintain the ship's seaworthiness and the sufficiency of supplies.
1- للربان وحده قيادة السفينة، وإدارة الرحلة البحرية، ويقوم الضابط الذي يليه مباشرة في الدرجة مقامه في حالة وفاته أو غيابه أو وجود مانع آخر. 2- يجب على الربان أن
- Article 102
The master may not give up command of the ship until it reaches port, and may not leave it or order it abandoned except in the face of certain danger after consulting its officers, saving money, papers and the most valuable cargo where possible.
1- لا يجوز للربان أن يتخلى عن قيادة السفينة حتى وصول السفينة إلى الميناء. 2- لا يجوز للربان أن يغادر السفينة، أو أن يأمر بتركها إلا بسبب خطرٍ محقق وبعد أخذ رأي
- Article 103
The master must personally command the ship when entering and leaving ports, passing through waterways and whenever special obstacles confront navigation, even if he is obliged to use a pilot.
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،
- Article 104
The master has the authority to notarize on the ship, and over those on board the powers needed to preserve order and the security of the ship, passengers and cargo and the safety of the voyage, and to impose disciplinary penalties in accordance with the regulations.
تكون للربان سلطة التوثيق على السفينة، كما تكون له على الأشخاص الذين على السفينة السلطات التي يقتضيها حفظ النظام وأمن السفينة والركاب والبضائع المشحونة بها وسلام
- Article 105
The master records births and deaths in the official logbook and follows the civil status rules, inventories a deceased person's belongings with an officer and hands them over at the first Saudi port, and may put off a person with a contagious disease at the nearest port.
1- إذا حدثت ولادة أو وفاة أثناء السفر وجب على الربان إثبات هذه الوقائع في دفتر الوقائع الرسمي للسفينة، واتباع الإجراءات المنصوص عليها في الأنظمة الخاصة بالأحوال
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.