Article 16 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 16 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: تسجيل السفينة
The article makes the registration certificate a document proving ownership of the ship and its Saudi nationality, requires it to stay on board with a copy posted, and bars its assignment or seizure for a debt or any other reason.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تعد شهادة التسجيل وثيقة لإثبات ملكية السفينة، وتمتعها بالجنسية السعودية، ويجب إبقاؤها في السفينة، وتعليق صورة منها في لوحة الإعلانات بالسفينة، ولا تستخدم إلا لتسيير السفينة في ملاحة مشروعة، ولا يجوز التنازل عنها، أو حجزها، للوفاء بدين أو لأي سبب آخر.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article sets out the value of the registration certificate and its rules:
1. Its evidentiary force: it is a document proving two things:
- Ownership of the ship.
- That the ship has Saudi nationality.
2. Keeping it:
- It must be kept on board the ship.
- A copy of it must be posted on the ship's notice board.
3. Its use: it may be used only to operate the ship in lawful navigation.
4. Its protection: it may not be assigned, nor seized to satisfy a debt or for any other reason.
In practical terms, a creditor cannot seize the registration certificate itself to secure a debt, because the article expressly prohibits it. Nor may the owner assign the certificate to someone else. The article does not address seizure of the ship itself. Having the certificate on board and a copy posted makes the ship's ownership and nationality details available for inspection.
A person owed a debt by a ship owner who wants to know what options are available can consult a lawyer specializing in commercial or enforcement cases.
Practical example
A creditor asks a ship's master to hand over the ship's registration certificate as security for a debt owed by the owner. This is not permitted, because the article bars assigning or seizing the certificate to satisfy a debt or for any other reason.
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 16 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What does a ship's registration certificate prove?
Ownership of the ship and that it has Saudi nationality.
Can a ship's registration certificate be seized for a debt?
No. It may not be assigned or seized to satisfy a debt or for any other reason.
Where is the registration certificate kept?
It must be kept on the ship, and a copy must be posted on the ship's notice board.
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.