Article 49 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 49 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: حقوق الامتياز على السفينة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 لحقت بالسفينة، ولم يتم إصلاحها، والمستحقة عن خسارة أجرة النقل.
ب- التعويضات المستحقة للمالك عن الخسائر البحرية المشتركة إذا نشأت عن أضرار مادية لحقت بالسفينة ولم يتم إصلاحها، أو عن خسارة أجرة النقل.
ج- المكافآت المستحقة للمالك عن أعمال الإنقاذ التي حصلت أثناء الرحلة بعد خصم المبالغ المستحقة للربان والبحارة وغيرهم ممن يرتبطون بعقد عمل بحري على السفينة.
2- تعد أجرة سفر الركاب في حكم أجرة النقل.
3- لا تعد من ملحقات السفينة وأجرة النقل التعويضات المستحقة للمالك بمقتضى عقود التأمين، أو الإعانات، أو المساعدات التي تمنحها الدولة أو إحدى الشخصيات الاعتبارية العامة.
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 49 explained in plain English
This article explains the phrase “accessories of the ship and the freight” in paragraph (1) of Article 48, which makes liens attach to the ship, the freight of the voyage and the accessories of each.
1. What counts as accessories:
- (a) Compensation due to the owner for physical damage to the ship that has not been repaired, and for loss of freight.
- (b) Compensation due to the owner for general average if it arises from physical damage to the ship that has not been repaired, or from loss of freight.
- (c) Salvage rewards due to the owner for services performed during the voyage, after deducting what is due to the master, the crew and others bound by a maritime employment contract on the ship.
2. Passenger fares: the fare for carrying passengers is treated as freight.
3. What does not count as accessories:
- Compensation due to the owner under insurance contracts.
- Subsidies or assistance granted by the State or by a public legal person.
In practical terms, a privileged creditor may collect from some compensation and rewards due to the owner, but not from insurance compensation or government subsidies. A person who needs to determine the scope of what can be enforced against may consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases.
Practical example
A passenger ship was damaged in an accident and not repaired, and its owner became entitled to compensation from the party responsible and to other compensation from an insurance company. The first compensation counts as an accessory of the ship subject to the lien; the insurance compensation does not.
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 49 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Is insurance compensation an accessory of the ship subject to the lien?
No. Compensation due to the owner under insurance contracts is not an accessory of the ship and the freight.
Are passenger fares treated like cargo freight for the lien?
Yes. The fare for carrying passengers is treated as freight.
Is a salvage reward an accessory of the ship?
Yes. Rewards due to the owner for salvage during the voyage, after deducting what is due to the master, the crew and others.
Articles this article refers to
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 47
The article provides that maritime liens on a ship are not subject to any formality or any special requirement of proof.
لا تخضع حقوق الامتياز لأي إجراء شكلي، أو لأي شرط خاص بالإثبات.
- 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 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.