Article 168 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 168 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: إيجار السفينة المجهزة
After the discharge periods expire, the master may unload the goods at the charterer's expense and responsibility, and must take the measures needed to preserve the goods he has unloaded.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للربان بعد انقضاء مدد التفريغ إنزال البضائع المشحونة على نفقة المستأجر ومسؤوليته، ويلتزم الربان باتخاذ التدابير اللازمة للمحافظة على البضائع التي أنزلها من السفينة.
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 168 explained in plain English
This article deals with the case where the discharge periods expire without the charterer having discharged its goods. In that case:
- The master may unload the goods that were loaded.
- This is done at the charterer's expense and responsibility.
The ship is not kept tied up indefinitely because of the charterer's delay; the master can unload the goods to free the ship, and the charterer bears the costs and risks of unloading.
But the article places a corresponding duty on the master: to take the measures needed to preserve the goods he has unloaded from the ship. He may not leave them exposed to damage or loss.
This right arises for the master only after the discharge periods have expired. The preceding Article 167 provides that the loading period is independent of the discharge period unless otherwise agreed. It is followed by Article 169, which obliges the charterer to pay the full freight even if it did not load all the agreed goods. A charterer whose goods have been unloaded is advised to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
The discharge periods of a chartered ship in the port of Jeddah expired without the charterer taking delivery of its goods. The master unloaded the goods at the charterer's expense and responsibility, and took what was needed to protect them from damage.
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 168 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
May the master unload the goods if the charterer is late in discharging?
Yes, after the discharge periods expire, at the charterer's expense and responsibility.
Who looks after the goods after they are unloaded?
The master must take the measures needed to preserve the goods he has unloaded.
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.