Article 35 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 35 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الأول: بناء السفينة وملكيتها
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تسري أحكام المادتين (الثالثة والثلاثين) و(الرابعة والثلاثين) على عقود إجراء إصلاحات 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 35 explained in plain English
This article extends two provisions on ship construction to cover ship repair contracts:
- Article 33: the ship builder guarantees the ship is free of hidden defects, even if the party ordering it accepted delivery after trials.
- Article 34: a suit for guarantee of hidden defects is not heard after one year from the date of learning of the defect.
Application to repairs: by applying these two provisions to repair contracts, the party carrying out the ship's repair guarantees that its repairs are free of hidden defects, even if the ship's owner accepted delivery after trials, and the guarantee suit is limited to one year from the date of learning of the defect.
In practical terms for the ship owner, the guarantee is not limited to new ships but also covers repair work. If a hidden defect appears after the repair in the work carried out, the owner may have recourse against the party who did the repair, provided the suit is filed within one year of learning of the defect.
The article does not define the scope or size of "repairs". A person whose ship develops a defect after being repaired would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases before the one-year period expires.
Practical example
A workshop at the port of Yanbu repairs the engine of a cargo ship, and the owner accepts delivery after trials. Two months later a hidden fault appears in the repair. The workshop guarantees it, and the owner must file suit within one year of learning of the fault.
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 35 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Does the party repairing a ship guarantee hidden defects in its work?
Yes. The provisions of Article 33 apply to ship repair contracts, so it guarantees the work is free of hidden defects even if the owner accepted delivery after trials.
What is the time limit for a defect suit over a ship repair?
One year from the date of learning of the defect, as Article 34 applies to repair contracts.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 33
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.
يضمن متعهد بناء السفينة خلوها من العيوب الخفية، وإن قبل طالب البناء تسلم السفينة بعد تجربتها.
- 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.
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 33
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.
يضمن متعهد بناء السفينة خلوها من العيوب الخفية، وإن قبل طالب البناء تسلم السفينة بعد تجربتها.
- 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 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.