Article 33 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 33 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الأول: بناء السفينة وملكيتها
The article makes the ship builder guarantee that the ship is free of hidden defects, even if the party ordering it accepted delivery after trials.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يضمن متعهد بناء السفينة خلوها من العيوب الخفية، وإن قبل طالب البناء تسلم السفينة بعد تجربتها.
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 33 explained in plain English
This article imposes an obligation on the ship builder: to guarantee the ship is free of hidden defects.
What is a hidden defect? It is a defect that does not appear on ordinary inspection at the time of delivery, as opposed to an obvious defect.
The guarantee continues after delivery: the guarantee stands even if the party ordering the construction accepted delivery of the ship after trials. That is, trials and acceptance of delivery do not extinguish the right of the party ordering the construction to have recourse against the builder because of a hidden defect.
In practical terms, accepting delivery of the ship, which is the moment ownership passes under Article 32 unless agreed otherwise, does not release the builder from defects that did not appear at the time of the trials. If a hidden defect is discovered after delivery, the builder remains liable for it.
However, this right is not open-ended in time, since Article 34 provides that a suit for guarantee of hidden defects is not heard after one year from the date of learning of the defect. Article 33 does not specify the forms the guarantee takes, such as repair or compensation.
A person who discovers a hidden defect in a new ship would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases without delay, given the period for hearing the suit.
Practical example
A transport company receives a new ship after trials, and four months later a leak appears in its hull that was not apparent at the time of the trials. The builder remains liable for this hidden defect despite acceptance of delivery.
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 33 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Does the hidden-defect guarantee lapse after the ship is delivered?
No. The ship builder guarantees the ship is free of hidden defects even if the party ordering it accepted delivery after trials.
Is there a time limit for a hidden-defect suit?
Yes. Article 34 provides that a suit for guarantee of hidden defects is not heard after one year from the date of learning of the defect.
More articles on Ship Construction and Co-Ownership
- Article 31
The article requires a ship construction contract, and any amendment to it, to be proved in writing, and the contract is valid only if signed by its parties.
يثبت عقد بناء السفينة وأي تعديل يطرأ عليه بالكتابة، ولا يكون صحيحاً إلا بتوقيع أطرافه عليه.
- Article 32
The article provides that ownership of the ship remains with the builder and passes to the party ordering it only on accepting delivery after trials, unless agreed otherwise.
تبقى ملكية السفينة لمتعهد البناء، ولا تنتقل ملكيتها إلى طالب البناء إلا بقبول تسلمها بعد تجربتها، ما لم يتفق على غير ذلك.
- Article 34
The article provides that a suit for guarantee of hidden defects is not heard after one year from the date of learning of the defect.
لا تسمع دعوى ضمان العيوب الخفية بعد مضي سنة من تاريخ العلم بالعيب.
- Article 35
The article extends the hidden-defect guarantee and the one-year period from learning of the defect, set in Articles 33 and 34, to ship repair contracts.
تسري أحكام المادتين (الثالثة والثلاثين) و(الرابعة والثلاثين) على عقود إجراء إصلاحات السفينة.
- Article 36
The article requires acts creating, transferring or ending ownership of a ship or other real rights in it to be proved by an official document, otherwise void, and they are effective against third parties only once entered in the ship's register.
1- تُثبت التصرفات التي يكون موضوعها إنشاء حق الملكية أو نقله أو انقضاءه، أو غير ذلك من الحقوق العينية على السفينة؛ بمحرر رسمي، وإلاَّ كانت باطلة. وإذا وقعت هذه
- Article 37
The article provides that the majority view, meaning owners of more than half the shares, governs decisions on operating a jointly owned ship, and lets the dissenting minority ask a court to annul a decision within 15 days.
1- يُتَّبع رأي الأغلبية في كل قرار يتعلق باستغلال سفينة مملوكة على الشيوع، ما لم ينص النظام أو يتفق المالكون على غير ذلك. 2- تتوافر الأغلبية لمالكي أكثر من نصف
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.