Article 113 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 113 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: الربان
The master may not sell the ship without special authorization from its owner.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز للربان أن يبيع السفينة بغير تفويض خاص من مالكها.
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 113 explained in plain English
This article places an express limit on the master's authority: the master may not sell the ship without special authorization from its owner.
This means that the general agency the master enjoys is not enough to sell the ship. Selling the ship itself is a serious act, so a special authorization is needed.
Note that the article requires the authorization to come from the owner, not the shipowner (operator), because the sale touches ownership itself.
This article follows Article 112, which allows the master, in urgent necessity, to borrow against the ship and its freight or cargo with the permission of the competent court, and to sell part of the goods if borrowing is not possible. So even in necessity, the master's power does not extend to selling the ship itself without special authorization.
If there is a dispute over a sale made without authorization, consulting a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law is advised.
Practical example
The master of a fishing vessel in the port of Jazan is offered a price for the vessel by a local merchant. The master may not sell it unless carrying a special authorization from the vessel's owner.
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 113 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Is the master entitled to sell the ship?
No, not without special authorization from its owner.
Is the master's general agency enough to sell the ship?
No. The article requires special authorization from the owner.
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.