Article 111 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 111 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: الربان
The master submits a report on unusual incidents to the Authority within 24 hours of arrival; the Authority verifies it and draws up a record, and the master may not unload the affected cargo before the report except in extreme necessity.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا طرأت أثناء الرحلة حوادث غير عادية تتعلق بالسفينة أو بالركاب أو بالشحنة وجب على الربان أن يعد تقريراً بذلك يقدمه إلى الهيئة خلال أربع وعشرين ساعة من وصول السفينة إلى الميناء.
2- تتحقق الهيئة من صحة التقرير بسماع أقوال البحارة والركاب إذا اقتضى الأمر ذلك، وبجمع المعلومات التي تساعد في الوصول إلى الحقيقة، ويحرر محضراً بذلك تسلم صورة منه إلى الربان.
3- إذا تعلق الحادث بالشحنة فلا يجوز للربان أن يشرع في تفريغ السفينة قبل تقديم التقرير المذكور في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة إلا في حالة الضرورة القصوى.
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 111 explained in plain English
This article governs the master's duty to report unusual incidents that occur during the voyage and concern the ship, the passengers or the cargo.
First: the report. The master prepares a report on the incident and submits it to the Authority, which under Article 1 is the Transport General Authority, within twenty-four hours of the ship's arrival at the port.
Second: the Authority's verification. The Authority verifies the accuracy of the report:
- By hearing the statements of seafarers and passengers where required.
- By gathering information that helps establish the truth.
A record is then drawn up and a copy is given to the master.
Third: no unloading before the report. If the incident concerns the cargo, the master may not begin unloading the ship before the report is submitted, except in a case of extreme necessity. The purpose is to keep the goods as they are until the incident is documented.
This should be read with Article 110, which requires the official logbook to be presented for endorsement within twenty-four hours of arrival. For owners of damaged goods this record is an important document, and consulting a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law is advised.
Practical example
A ship meets a strong storm in the Arabian Gulf, damaging some of the cargo containers. On arrival at the port of Dammam, the master submits a report to the Transport General Authority within twenty-four hours, and does not begin unloading the containers before submitting it except in extreme necessity.
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 111 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
When must the master submit the report on a maritime incident?
Within twenty-four hours of the ship's arrival at the port.
May damaged goods be unloaded before the report is submitted?
Not if the incident concerns the cargo, except in a case of extreme necessity.
How does the Authority verify the master's report?
By hearing the statements of seafarers and passengers where required and gathering helpful information, then drawing up a record, a copy of which is given to 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.