Article 132 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 132 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد العمل البحري
The employer bears the burial costs in his home country for a seafarer who dies in the ship's service whatever the cause, and deposits his dues with the competent authority within 15 days of death, disappearance or inability to hand them over.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا توفي البحار وهو في خدمة السفينة, وجب على صاحب العمل أداء نفقات دفنه في بلده أيًّا كان سبب الوفاة.
2- على صاحب العمل أن يُودِع لدى الجهة المختصة الأجر النقدي وغيره من المبالغ المستحقة خلال خمسة عشر يوماً من تاريخ الوفاة أو الفقدان أو تعذر تسليم البحار.
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 132 explained in plain English
This article sets out the employer's obligations on the death or disappearance of a seafarer.
First: burial costs. If a seafarer dies while in the ship's service, the employer must pay the costs of his burial in his home country, whatever the cause of death. The employer is not excused even if the death was unrelated to the work.
Second: depositing dues. The employer must deposit with the competent authority the cash wage and other amounts due to the seafarer, within fifteen days of the date of:
- death, or
- disappearance, or
- inability to hand the seafarer over.
The article does not name the competent authority. The period runs from the date of the event itself, not from the date the heirs make a claim.
This provision is linked to Article 131, which gives a seafarer injured or ill in the ship's service his full wage during the voyage, and to Article 133, which extends a fixed-term maritime employment contract if its term ends during the voyage. Families of deceased or missing seafarers are advised to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime law.
Practical example
An Egyptian seafarer working on a Saudi ship dies while it is anchored in the port of Jeddah. The employer bears the costs of burying him in Egypt, and deposits his wage and dues with the competent authority within fifteen days of the death.
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 132 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Who bears the burial costs of a seafarer who dies?
The employer, if the seafarer dies while in the ship's service, whatever the cause of death, with burial in his home country.
When must the employer deposit the dues of a deceased seafarer?
Within fifteen days of the date of death, disappearance or inability to hand the seafarer over, with the competent authority.
More articles on Maritime Employment Contract and Seafarer Rights
- Article 56
The article provides that giving the master and crew an advance or a payment on account does not make their debts referred to in paragraph (2) of Article 46 payable before their due date.
لا يترتب على تسليم الربان والبحارة وغيرهم ممن يرتبطون بعقد عمل في السفينة مبلغاً مقدماً أو على الحساب اعتبار ديونهم المشار إليها في الفقرة (2) من المادة (السادس
- Article 91
If a ship is sold compulsorily as a result of its attachment, the person to whom the auction is awarded is not bound by the employment contracts of the master or the seamen working on it.
إذا بيعت السفينة جبراً نتيجة الحجز عليها فلا يلتزم من رسا عليه المزاد بعقود عمل ربان السفينة أو البحارة الذين يعملون عليها.
- Article 114
The master and seafarers may not load goods for their own account without the shipowner's permission; a violator pays double the freight, and the master may throw the goods overboard if they endanger safety or entail fines or expenses.
لا يجوز للربان أو لأحد البحارة شحن بضاعة في السفينة لحسابه الخاص إلا بإذن من المجهز، ويترتب على مخالفة هذا الحظر إلزام المخالف بأن يدفع للمجهز ضعف أجرة نقل البض
- Article 125
The maritime employment contract provisions apply to those working on ships on international voyages, and a Saudi may not work on ships sailing outside the Kingdom's maritime areas without a maritime service record from the Authority.
1- تسري أحكام عقد العمل البحري الواردة في النظام على الأشخاص الذين يعملون على السفن التي تقوم برحلات دولية. 2- لا يجوز لمن يحملون الجنسية السعودية أن يقوموا بأي
- Article 126
The employer must pay seafarers' wages at the time and place specified in the contract, or those required by maritime custom.
يلتزم صاحب العمل بأداء أجور البحارة في الزمان والمكان المحددين في العقد، أو اللذين يقضي بهما العرف البحري.
- Article 127
A seafarer's voyage wage is not reduced if the shipowner or master shortens the voyage, and increases in proportion to the extension if they lengthen or postpone it, with no increase for the master where it was his fault.
إذا كان الأجر معيناً بالرحلة فلا يجوز تخفيضه في حالة تقصير السفر بفعل المجهز أو الربان، أما إذا نشأ عن الفعل المذكور إطالة السفر أو تأجيله فيزداد الأجر بنسبة ام
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.