Article 47 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 47 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: حقوق الامتياز على السفينة
The article provides that maritime liens on a ship are not subject to any formality or any special requirement of proof.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا تخضع حقوق الامتياز لأي إجراء شكلي، أو لأي شرط خاص بالإثبات.
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 47 explained in plain English
This article states an important rule for holders of maritime liens on a ship, the rights listed in Article 46, such as maritime employment contract debts, fees, salvage rewards and compensation for navigation accidents.
The rule:
- Maritime liens are not subject to any formality.
- Nor are they subject to any special requirement of proof.
In practical terms, the lien arises by operation of law once the privileged debt arises, without any need to register it, record it or document it in a particular form, and without requiring a special means of proof. A sailor with unpaid wages does not need to complete a formality for his debt to enjoy the lien.
The article does not mean that the debt itself need not be proved to exist; it concerns the lien itself and its freedom from any formality or special proof requirement.
A person who is owed a debt by a ship and wishes to rely on his lien may consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases.
Practical example
A company providing towage services in the port of Dammam to a ship was not paid its fees. Its lien on the ship for those fees is not subject to any formality or special requirement of proof.
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 47 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Does a maritime lien on a ship have to be registered?
No. Maritime liens are not subject to any formality.
Is there a special means of proof for a maritime lien?
No. Maritime liens are not subject to any special requirement of proof.
More articles on Maritime Liens and Mortgages
- Article 46
The article lists the debts that carry a maritime lien on the ship, from court costs and crew employment debts to fees, salvage rewards, compensation and the master's contract debts.
تشمل حقوق الامتياز على السفينة ما يأتي: 1- المصروفات القضائية التي أنفقت لحفظ السفينة وبيعها وتوزيع ثمنها. 2- الديون الناشئة عن عقد عمل الربان والبحارة وغيرهم م
- Article 48
The article specifies the property that the Article 46 liens attach to: the ship, the freight of the voyage that gave rise to the debt, and their accessories, with a special rule for the paragraph 3 lien.
1- تترتب حقوق الامتياز المنصوص عليها في المادة (السادسة والأربعين) على السفينة، وأجرة النقل الخاصة بالرحلة التي نشأ عنها الدين، وعلى ملحقات كل من السفينة، وأجرة
- Article 49
The article defines what counts as accessories of the ship and the freight subject to the lien, such as compensation for unrepaired damage and salvage rewards; passenger fares count as freight; insurance compensation and State subsidies are excluded.
1- يعد من ملحقات السفينة وأجرة النقل المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الثامنة والأربعين) ما يأتي: أ- التعويضات المستحقة للمالك عن الأضرار المادية التي لحق
- Article 50
The article provides that the lien on freight remains as long as the freight is payable or is held by the master or the owner's representative, and likewise the lien on the accessories of the ship and the freight.
يبقى حق الامتياز على أجرة النقل قائماً ما دامت الأجرة مستحقة الدفع، أو كانت تحت يد الربان أو ممثل المالك، وكذلك الحال بالنسبة إلى الامتياز على ملحقات السفينة وم
- Article 51
The article sets the ranking of liens for a single voyage in the order of Article 46, with proportional sharing within one paragraph, reverse chronological order for paragraphs (4) and (6), and one date for rights arising from one incident.
1- تُرتب حقوق الامتياز المتعلقة برحلة واحدة وفقاً للترتيب الوارد في المادة (السادسة والأربعين) من النظام. 2- تكون للحقوق المذكورة في كل فقرة من المادة (السادسة
- Article 52
The article provides that liens arising from any voyage rank ahead of those arising from an earlier voyage, and that liens arising from a single employment contract covering several voyages share one rank.
1- حقوق الامتياز الناشئة عن أي رحلة تتقدم حقوق الامتياز الناشئة عن رحلة سابقة. 2- حقوق الامتياز الناشئة عن عقد عمل واحد يتعلق بعدة رحلات تكون كلها في مرتبة واحد
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.