Article 165 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 165 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: إيجار السفينة المجهزة
A voyage charter must state the names and addresses of both parties, the ship's details, the type and quantity of cargo, the loading and discharge places and periods, the freight and how it is calculated, and the agreed voyages.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يذكر في عقد إيجار السفينة بالرحلة ما يأتي:
1- اسم المؤجر والمستأجر وعنوان كل منهما.
2- اسم السفينة وجنسيتها وحمولتها وغيرها من الأوصاف اللازمة لتعيينها.
3- نوع الحمولة ومقدارها وأوصافها.
4- مكان الشحن ومكان التفريغ والمدة المتفق عليها لإجرائهما.
5- مقدار الأجرة وطريقة حسابها.
6- بيان الرحلات المتفق عليها.
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 165 explained in plain English
This article sets out the particulars that a voyage charter contract must contain, meaning a charter for one or more specific voyages rather than for a period of time:
- The names of the lessor and the charterer and the address of each.
- The ship's name, nationality and tonnage and other descriptions needed to identify it.
- The type, quantity and description of the cargo.
- The place of loading and the place of discharge and the agreed period for carrying them out.
- The amount of the freight and how it is calculated.
- A statement of the agreed voyages.
These particulars clearly focus on the cargo and the voyage, because this type of charter is about carrying a specific shipment between two ports, unlike a time charter, which is about a period of time.
One of the most important particulars is the agreed period for loading and discharge, since Article 166 builds on it the rules on additional grace periods and the daily compensation due to the lessor if loading or discharge is not completed within the original period. It is preceded by Article 164, which regulates the return of the ship under a time charter. When drafting a voyage charter, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime and commercial law so that these particulars are set out accurately.
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 165 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What must a voyage charter contract contain?
The names and addresses of the two parties, the ship's details, the type, quantity and description of the cargo, the places and periods of loading and discharge, the freight and how it is calculated, and the agreed voyages.
Why must the loading and discharge period be stated in the contract?
Because the article requires the agreed period for carrying them out to be included among the contract particulars, and Article 166 builds the rules on additional grace periods on it.
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.