Article 135 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 135 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: عقد العمل البحري
A dismissed seaman cannot be required to leave the ship in a foreign port without written permission from the Kingdom's representative office, and the dismissal, its date and its reasons must be recorded in the ship's logbook or it is unlawful.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا فصل البحار فلا يجوز للربان إلزامه بترك السفينة إذا كان في ميناء خارجي إلا بإذن كتابي من ممثلية المملكة، ويجب إثبات قرار الفصل وتاريخه وأسبابه في دفتر يومية السفينة, وإلا عُدّ الفصل غير مشروع.
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 135 explained in plain English
This article protects a dismissed seaman with two rules:
First: no leaving the ship in a foreign port without permission. If a seaman is dismissed while the ship is in a foreign port, the master may not require him to leave the ship except with written permission from the Kingdom's representative office. The purpose is that a seaman is not left in a foreign country without the oversight of an official body.
Second: documenting the dismissal. The following must be recorded in the ship's logbook:
- The dismissal decision.
- Its date.
- Its reasons.
If this is not recorded, the dismissal is treated as unlawful. This is an express sanction that applies as soon as the documentation is missing.
The article does not state the consequences of a dismissal being treated as unlawful. Article 134 gives the heirs of a seaman who dies defending the ship an additional award. Article 136 governs the right of a seaman hired for the voyage when force majeure prevents the journey. A seaman who was dismissed without documentation, or put ashore in a foreign port without permission, is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime law.
Practical example
The master of a Saudi ship decides to dismiss one of the seamen while the ship is anchored in a foreign port. He cannot require the seaman to disembark until he has written permission from the Kingdom's embassy or consulate there, and he must record the dismissal decision, its date and its reasons in the ship's logbook, otherwise the dismissal is treated as unlawful.
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 135 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Can a dismissed seaman be put ashore in a foreign port?
The master may not require him to leave the ship in a foreign port except with written permission from the Kingdom's representative office.
When is the dismissal of a seaman unlawful?
When the dismissal decision, its date and its reasons are not recorded in the ship's logbook.
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- Article 127
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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.