Article 149 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 149 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: إيجار السفينة غير المجهزة
The lessor of a bareboat ship delivers it seaworthy as agreed, repairs damage from force majeure, inherent defect or ordinary use, and no rent is due for downtime beyond 24 hours.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يلتزم المؤجر بأن يضع السفينة وهي في حالة صالحة للملاحة تحت تصرف المستأجر في الزمان والمكان المتفق عليهما، وللاستعمال المتفق عليه.
2- يلتزم المؤجر بإصلاح ما يصيب السفينة من تلف أو استبدال القطع التالفة إذا كان التلف ناشئاً عن قوة قاهرة, أو عن عيب ذاتي فيها, أو عن الاستعمال العادي لها في الغرض المتفق عليه. وإذا ترتب على التلف في هذه الحالات تعطيل استعمالها لمدة تتجاوز أربعاً وعشرين ساعة فلا تستحق الأجرة عن المدة الزائدة التي تبقى فيها معطلة.
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 149 explained in plain English
This article sets out the lessor's obligations in a bareboat ship charter, which under Article 1 is the contract in which the lessor places a specific ship at the lessee's disposal for a fixed period without equipping it with provisions, seamen or fuel.
First: delivery. The lessor must place the ship:
- in a seaworthy condition.
- at the agreed time and place.
- for the agreed use.
Second: repair. The lessor must repair damage to the ship or replace damaged parts if the damage arose from:
- force majeure, or
- an inherent defect in the ship, or
- its ordinary use for the agreed purpose.
Third: effect of downtime on the rent. If the damage in these cases results in the ship being out of use for more than twenty-four hours, no rent is due for the extra period in which it remains out of use.
These obligations are matched by the lessee's obligation in Article 150 to look after the ship and use it for the agreed purpose in accordance with its technical characteristics stated in its certificates. Parties to a charter contract are advised to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A company chartered a bareboat ship, and its engine broke down because of an inherent defect, stopping the ship for three days. The lessor must repair it, and no rent is due for the period exceeding twenty-four hours of downtime, that is, for two days.
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 149 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What are the obligations of the lessor of a bareboat ship?
To place the ship at the lessee's disposal seaworthy at the agreed time, place and use, and to repair damage arising from force majeure, an inherent defect or ordinary use.
Does the lessee pay rent if the ship is out of service?
If the downtime results from damage of the kinds mentioned and exceeds twenty-four hours, no rent is due for the extra period.
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.