Article 115 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 115 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: الربان
If the master must repair the ship during the voyage, the shipper may wait or take out the goods while paying full freight, with no increase in freight; if repair is not possible, the master hires a substitute ship at his own expense.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا اضطر الربان إلى إصلاح السفينة أثناء السفر، كان للمستأجر أو الشاحن الخيار بين الانتظار حتى إتمام إصلاح السفينة أو إخراج بضائعه منها، وفي هذه الحالة الأخيرة يلتزم المستأجر أو الشاحن بدفع الأجرة كاملة.
2- لا يتحمل المستأجر أو الشاحن زيادة في الأجرة عن مدة الإصلاح، وإذا تعذر إصلاح السفينة في مدة معقولة وجب على الربان استئجار سفينة أو أكثر بمصروفات منه لنقل البضائع إلى المكان المتفق عليه دون أن تستحق زيادة في الأجرة، فإذا تعذر عليه ذلك فلا تستحق الأجرة إلا بمقدار ما تم من الرحلة، وفي هذه الحالة يتولى كل شاحن نقل بضائعه.
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 115 explained in plain English
This article governs the rights of the charterer or shipper if the ship needs repair during the voyage.
First: the shipper's choice. The charterer or shipper may choose between:
- Waiting until the repair is completed, or
- Taking out the goods from the ship, in which case the shipper must pay the full freight.
Second: no increase in freight. The charterer or shipper bears no increase in freight because of the repair period.
Third: repair not possible within a reasonable time. The master must hire one or more ships at his own expense to carry the goods to the agreed place, with no increase in freight.
Fourth: hiring not possible. If that is also not possible, freight is due only for the part of the voyage completed, and each shipper takes charge of carrying his own goods.
The article is linked to Article 116, which requires the master to take the necessary steps to protect the interests of those with rights in the cargo. Anyone whose cargo was affected by a breakdown of the ship is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A ship carrying a Riyadh merchant's goods breaks down at an intermediate port. The merchant chooses not to wait and takes out the goods, and so owes the full freight. Had he waited and repair proved impossible within a reasonable time, the master would have had to hire a substitute ship at his own expense with no increase in freight.
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 115 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What are my rights if the ship carrying my goods breaks down?
You may choose between waiting until the repair is completed and taking out your goods; in the latter case you pay the full freight.
Does the freight increase because of the repair period?
No. The charterer or shipper bears no increase in freight for the repair period.
What if the ship cannot be repaired?
The master must hire one or more ships at his own expense to carry the goods; if that is not possible, freight is due only for the part of the voyage completed.
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.