Article 146 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 146 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الأول: عقد إيجار السفينة
The lessor may request detention of the lessee's goods on the ship at the port of arrival to collect the rent and its accessories unless security is provided, and the court orders them deposited with a custodian and may order their sale.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لمؤجر السفينة حق طلب حبس البضائع المملوكة للمستأجر الموجودة على السفينة لاستيفاء الأجرة المستحقة له وملحقاتها في ميناء الوصول المحدد في عقد الإيجار، ما لم تقدم له كفالة تقدرها المحكمة المختصة.
2- مع مراعاة أحكام نظام (قانون) الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية ولائحته التنفيذية, تأمر المحكمة في حالة استعمال الحق في الحبس بإخراج البضائع من السفينة وإيداعها عند أمينٍ تعينه، ولها أن تأمر ببيعها أو ببيع جزءٍ منها وفاءً للأجرة وملحقاتها، وتعين ميعاداً للبيع وتبيّن كيفية إجرائه.
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 146 explained in plain English
This article gives the ship's lessor a means of securing payment of the rent.
First: the right to request detention. The lessor may request the detention of the goods owned by the lessee that are on the ship, in order to:
- collect the rent due and its accessories.
- at the port of arrival specified in the charter contract.
- unless security is provided to him in an amount assessed by the competent court.
The article limits detention to goods owned by the lessee and does not mention the goods of others.
Second: the role of the court. Subject to the provisions of the Unified Customs Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and its implementing regulations, where the right of detention is exercised the court orders:
- the goods to be removed from the ship and deposited with a custodian it appoints.
- It may order their sale, or the sale of part of them, in satisfaction of the rent and its accessories, and sets the date of the sale and how it is carried out.
Article 147 completes this protection by giving the lessor a privilege over these goods to secure the debt of the rent and its accessories. Lessors and lessees of ships who dispute the rent are advised to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A ship's lessee has not paid the rent due, and the ship arrives at the port of Jeddah specified in the contract carrying the lessee's goods. The lessor requests detention of the goods, and the court orders them deposited with a custodian and may order part of them sold to pay the rent, unless the lessee provides security assessed by the court.
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 146 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Can a ship's owner detain the lessee's goods?
Yes, he may request detention of the lessee's goods on the ship at the port of arrival to collect the rent and its accessories.
How can the lessee prevent his goods from being detained?
By providing security in an amount assessed by the competent court.
Can the detained goods be sold?
The court may order their sale, or the sale of part of them, in satisfaction of the rent and its accessories, and sets the date and manner of the sale.
More articles on Ship Charter
- Article 20
The article permits registering a chartered foreign bareboat ship at the Kingdom's registration offices if the charterer meets the registration conditions, and creates a special temporary register for such ships.
1- تسجل السفينة الأجنبية غير المجهزة -لسفرة أو لرحلة واحدة أو لعدد من الرحلات والسفرات أو لمدة محددة- التي يستأجرها من تتوافر لديه شروط التسجيل بأي مكتب من مكات
- Article 21
The article subjects a chartered foreign bareboat ship registered in the Kingdom to the Kingdom's laws, with the charterer taking the owner's place in the law's obligations and penalties for the whole charter period.
تطبق على السفينة الأجنبية المستأجرة غير المجهزة المسجلة في المملكة، الأنظمة المعمول بها في المملكة، ويحل المستأجر طوال مدة الإيجار محل المالك فيما يتعلق بالالتز
- Article 22
The article requires the charterer of a ship that is not fitted out to apply to cancel its register and return the temporary registration certificate within fifteen days of the end of the charter contract.
يلتزم المستأجر بتقديم طلب شطب سجل السفينة المستأجرة غير المجهزة، وإعادة شهادة التسجيل المؤقتة الخاصة بها خلال خمسة عشر يوماً من تاريخ انتهاء عقد الإيجار.
- Article 23
The article requires the owner of a Saudi ship not fitted out, chartered to a foreigner, to notify the registration office fifteen days before the contract takes effect; registration is suspended or cancelled temporarily and the Kingdom's flag may not be flown during the charter.
في حالة تأجير سفينة سعودية غير مجهزة لأجنبي، فعلى مالكها إبلاغ مكتب التسجيل المسجلة فيه السفينة قبل سريان عقد الإيجار بخمسة عشر يوماً على الأقل، وعلى مكتب التسج
- Article 77
If the charterer manages the ship's navigation and alone is liable for the maritime debt, the ship or the charterer's other ships may be attached, but not the other ships of the lessor-owner.
1- إذا كان مستأجر السفينة يتولى إدارتها الملاحية، وكان وحده مسؤولاً عن أي دين بحري متعلق بها، جاز للدائن توقيع الحجز على هذه السفينة أو على أي سفينة أخرى مملوكة
- Article 142
A ship charter contract can be proven only in writing and must state the ship, the parties, loading and unloading, the rent and compensation and the type of charter, and a sale of the ship does not end the charter.
1- لا يثبت عقد إيجار السفينة إلا بالكتابة, ويجب أن يكون متضمناً اسم السفينة, ومقدار حمولتها, ودرجتها, والدولة التابعة لها، واسم المؤجر والمستأجر، والمكان والزما
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.