Article 112 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 112 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: الربان
In urgent necessity the master may borrow against the ship and its freight, then the cargo, with permission of the court or the representation; if borrowing fails, goods may be sold with permission, and shippers may object and demand unloading on paying full freight.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا طرأت ضرورة ملحة أثناء الرحلة جاز لربان السفينة أن يقترض بضمان السفينة وأجرتها، فإذا لم يكفِ هذا الضمان جاز الاقتراض بضمان شحنة السفينة. وفي جميع الأحوال لا يجوز الاقتراض إلا بعد الحصول على إذن من المحكمة المختصة التي تكون السفينة في نطاق اختصاصها متى كانت السفينة داخل المملكة، وإن كانت السفينة خارجها فمن ممثلية المملكة؛ وإن لم تكن هناك ممثلية فمن السلطة القضائية المحلية.
2- إذا لم يتيسر للربان الاقتراض فله بعد الحصول على إذن يصدر من المحكمة المختصة أن يبيع من البضائع المشحونة بمقدار المبلغ المطلوب. ويتولى الربان أو المجهز محاسبة أصحاب البضائع المبيعة على أساس السعر الجاري لبضائع من جنسها ونوعها في الميناء المشحونة إليه، وفي اليوم المتوقع وصولها فيه.
3- يجوز للشاحنين أو وكلائهم أن يعترضوا على رهن البضائع أو بيعها مع طلب تفريغها بشرط أداء أجرة النقل كاملة.
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 112 explained in plain English
This article addresses urgent necessity during the voyage when the ship needs money.
First: borrowing. The master may borrow against the ship and its freight, and if that is not enough, against the ship's cargo. In all cases prior permission is required from:
- The competent court in whose area the ship is located, if it is inside the Kingdom.
- The Kingdom's representation, if it is outside.
- The local judicial authority, if there is no representation.
Second: selling goods. If borrowing is not possible, the master may, after permission from the competent court, sell from the loaded goods only the amount needed. The master or the shipowner accounts to their owners on the basis of the current price of goods of the same kind and type at the port of arrival, on the day they were expected to arrive.
Third: the shippers' right. Shippers or their agents may object to the pledging or sale of their goods and ask for them to be unloaded, provided they pay the full freight.
Article 113 prevents the master from selling the ship itself without special authorization from its owner. Owners of affected goods are advised to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A ship breaks down in a foreign port and the master urgently needs money to repair it. The master obtains permission from the Kingdom's representation and borrows against the ship and its freight. If borrowing had not been possible, the master could, with judicial permission, have sold part of the goods to the extent needed, accounting to their owners at the price at the port of arrival.
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 112 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
May the master borrow against the ship?
Yes, in urgent necessity during the voyage, after permission of the competent court, the Kingdom's representation or the local judicial authority, depending on where the ship is.
How is the owner compensated for goods the master sold?
The owner is accounted to on the basis of the current price of goods of the same kind and type at the port of destination on the day they were expected to arrive.
Can a shipper stop the sale of the shipper's goods?
The shipper or the shipper's agent may object to their pledging or sale and ask for them to be unloaded, provided the full freight is paid.
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.