Article 176 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 176 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: إيجار السفينة المجهزة
If the ship cannot reach the discharge port, the lessor directs it to the nearest possible port and bears the costs of carrying the goods to the agreed port, except in force majeure, when the charterer bears them.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا تعذر وصول السفينة إلى الميناء المعين لتفريغ البضاعة وجب أن يوجه المؤجر السفينة إلى أقرب ميناء إليه يمكن التفريغ فيه.
2- يتحمل المؤجر مصروفات نقل البضائع إلى الميناء المتفق عليه؛ إلا إذا كان تعذر وصول السفينة إليه ناشئاً عن قوة قاهرة، فيتحمل المستأجر المصروفات.
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 176 explained in plain English
This article deals with the case where the ship cannot reach the designated port to discharge the goods.
First: the lessor's duty. The lessor must direct the ship to the nearest port to the designated port at which discharge is possible.
Second: the costs of carrying the goods to the agreed port.
- The rule: they are borne by the lessor.
- The exception: if the inability to reach the port results from force majeure, they are borne by the charterer.
The reasoning is that the lessor undertook to deliver the goods to the agreed port, so if it cannot do so for an ordinary reason, it bears the cost of completing the carriage. Force majeure is not within its control, so the cost passes to the charterer.
Note that the article combines the duty to direct the ship to the nearest port with the allocation of costs, and does not specify the means of carrying the goods from the alternative port to the agreed port.
It is preceded by Article 175, which limits the charterer's obligation to the freight for the part of the voyage completed if continuing it becomes impossible for a reason attributable to the lessor. It is followed by Article 177, which regulates entitlement to freight when goods are lost. Anyone facing the diversion of a ship to another port is advised to consult a lawyer specialized in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A chartered ship was heading to the port of Duba to discharge goods, but could not enter because of faults in the port facilities that do not count as force majeure. The lessor directs the ship to the nearest port where discharge is possible, and bears the costs of carrying the goods to Duba.
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 176 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What happens if the ship cannot enter the discharge port?
The lessor must direct it to the nearest port to it at which discharge is possible.
Who bears the costs of carrying the goods to the original port?
The lessor, unless the inability to reach the port results from force majeure, in which case the charterer bears them.
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.