Article 155 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 155 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: إيجار السفينة المجهزة
The lessor of a fully equipped ship is liable for damage to the goods the lessee places on the ship, unless he proves he fully performed his obligations and the damage did not arise from his fault or that of his subordinates.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يسأل مؤجر السفينة المجهزة عن الضرر الذي يصيب البضائع التي يضعها المستأجر في السفينة, إلا إذا أثبت أنه قام بتنفيذ التزاماته كاملة, وأن الضرر لم ينشأ عن تقصيره أو تقصير تابعيه.
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 155 explained in plain English
This article opens the provisions on the charter of a fully equipped ship, which under Article 1 is the contract in which the lessor places at the lessee's disposal a seaworthy ship, fully equipped with provisions, seamen or fuel, for a fixed period or for a particular voyage or voyages.
The article establishes the lessor's liability for damage to the goods the lessee places on the ship. What matters here is that the burden of proof is on the lessor; to escape liability he must prove two things together:
- that he fully performed his obligations.
- and that the damage did not arise from his fault or the fault of his subordinates.
The lessee need not prove fault by the lessor; it is enough for him to prove the damage, and then it falls on the lessor to disprove his liability.
The logic is that in this type of charter the lessor provides an equipped ship and a crew, so he is closer to knowing what happens on the ship. This article is matched by Article 156, which makes the lessee liable for damage to the ship or goods if it arose from his misuse of the ship or from a defect in his goods. Anyone whose goods have been damaged is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A company chartered a ship equipped with its crew to carry a cargo of rice, and the cargo arrived wet because of a leak in the hold. The lessor is liable for the damage, unless he proves that he fully performed his obligations and that the leak did not arise from his fault or the fault of his crew.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCivil Litigation & Compensation lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Abdullah Al-Saleh Law Office for Law and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 155 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Is the lessor of a fully equipped ship liable for damage to the lessee's goods?
Yes, unless he proves that he fully performed his obligations and that the damage did not arise from his fault or that of his subordinates.
Who bears the burden of proof when goods on a fully equipped ship are damaged?
The lessor, who must prove that he performed his obligations and that neither he nor his subordinates were at fault in order to escape liability.
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.