Article 14 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 14 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: تسجيل السفينة
Article 14 lets any interested person object to a ship's registration within 90 days of publication of the registration record, by a reasoned objection followed by a lawsuit within 15 days, failing which it is treated as never made.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لكل مَنْ له مصلحة أن يعترض على تسجيل السفينة، وذلك خلال (تسعين) يوماً من تاريخ نشر محضر التسجيل.
2- يقدم الاعتراض مسبباً إلى مكتب تسجيل السفن للتأشير فيه في السجل، تتبعه إقامة دعوى الاعتراض أمام الجهة القضائية المختصة خلال خمسة عشر يوماً من تاريخ تقديم الاعتراض وإلا عُدّ الاعتراض كأن لم يكن.
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 14 explained in plain English
This article allows anyone with an interest to object to the registration of a ship, such as someone who claims ownership of it or a right in it.
1. Time limit for objection: 90 days from the date the registration record is published.
2. How to object:
- The objection is submitted with reasons to the ship registration office, to be noted in the register.
- It is followed by filing the objection lawsuit before the competent judicial authority within 15 days of the date the objection was submitted.
3. Consequence: if the lawsuit is not filed within the fifteen days, the objection is treated as never made.
The practical meaning is that an objection goes through two successive steps, each with a time limit: submitting the reasoned objection to the office within 90 days of publication, then filing the lawsuit within 15 days of submitting it. The first step alone is not enough. The article is connected to Article 15, which provides for issuing the permanent registration certificate if no objection is submitted within its period or a final judgment rejecting it is issued.
Anyone who believes a ship's registration affects their right would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases before the time limits expire.
Practical example
A merchant believes a ship was registered in the name of his former partner while he owns a share in it. He submitted a reasoned objection to the registration office within 90 days of publication of the record, and he must then file the objection lawsuit within 15 days, failing which his objection is treated as never made.
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 14 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
How long is the time limit to object to a ship's registration?
Ninety days from the date the registration record is published.
Is submitting the objection to the registration office enough?
No. It must be followed by filing the objection lawsuit before the competent judicial authority within fifteen days of submitting it, otherwise it is treated as never made.
Who may object?
Anyone with an interest.
More articles on Registration of Ships and Maritime Units
- Article 7
Article 7 bars a self-propelled ship from sailing under the Kingdom's flag without registration, refers the procedures to the regulations, and exempts specific vessels by length, tonnage and type.
1- لا يجوز لأي سفينة ذاتية الدفع أن تبحر رافعة علم المملكة إلاَّ إذا كانت مسجلة وفقاً لأحكام هذا النظام, وتحدد اللوائح إجراءات التسجيل وشروطه, وإصدار الشهادة. 2
- Article 8
Article 8 regulates ship registration offices approved by the Chairman, the ship register and its entries, the registration record and its publication and announcement at the owner's expense, and registration fees.
1- تسجل السفن في مكاتب التسجيل المعتمدة بقرار من الرئيس في أيٍّ من موانئ المملكة. 2- ينشأ في كل مكتب من مكاتب التسجيل سجل خاص يسمى (سجل السفن)، ترقم صفحاته، وتخ
- Article 9
Article 9 bars a ship from sailing under the flag of more than one state, registering a ship already registered in another state before its deletion, and changing flag while sailing or stopped except for a transfer of ownership or registration change.
1- لا يجوز للسفينة أن تبحر، وهي رافعة علم أكثر من دولة. 2- لا يجوز أن تسجل سفينة في سجل السفن إذا كانت مسجلة في سجل سفن دولة أخرى، ما لم تكن قد شطبت من ذلك السج
- Article 10
Article 10 requires, for a ship to be registered, that the Authority or a delegated approved classification society inspect, survey and measure it and assess its tonnage, after the ownership document is submitted.
يشترط لتسجيل السفينة فحصها ومعاينتها وقياسها وتقدير حمولتها من قبل الهيئة أو من تفوضه من إحدى هيئات التصنيف المحلية أو الدولية المعتمدة بعد تقديم وثيقة ملكيتها.
- Article 11
Article 11 requires every Saudi ship to have a name, written at its bow and stern in clear Arabic and Latin letters with its port of registration, and bars the same name for more than one ship in the Kingdom.
أ- يجب على كل سفينة سعودية أن تتخذ لها اسماً، ويجب أن يكتب اسمها على مقدمتها من الجانبين وعلى مؤخرتها بحروف عربية ولاتينية ظاهرة وبلون مختلف عن لونها، ويجب كذلك
- Article 12
Article 12 empowers the registration office to issue a temporary registration certificate valid for one or more voyages, or for six months renewable for up to two years.
يصدر مكتب التسجيل شهادة تسجيل مؤقتة للسفينة، تكون صالحة لرحلة واحدة أو أكثر، أو لمدة ستة أشهر قابلة للتجديد لمدة أقصاها سنتان.
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.