Article 50 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 50 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: حقوق الامتياز على السفينة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 وملحقات أجرة النقل.
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 50 explained in plain English
This article specifies when the lien on freight and its accessories remains in place.
The lien on freight remains in two cases:
- As long as the freight is payable, meaning it has not yet been paid.
- Or it is held by the master or the owner's representative, meaning it was paid but has not left their hands.
Accessories: the same rule applies to the lien on:
- The accessories of the ship.
- The accessories of the freight.
In practical terms, the privileged creditor can assert his lien on the freight as long as it has not been paid, or was paid and remains in the hands of the master or the owner's representative. It follows from the wording that if the freight leaves these situations, for example if the owner himself collects it, this article does not address it, and the article does not state the rule for that case expressly.
The article is linked to Article 49, which specifies what counts as accessories of the ship and the freight, such as compensation for unrepaired damage and salvage rewards, and treats passenger fares as freight. A person holding a privileged debt who wants to know whether his lien still subsists on the freight may consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases.
Practical example
A sailor is owed back wages on a ship, and the freight of the voyage has not yet been paid by the shipper. His lien on the freight remains in place as long as it is payable or is held by the master or the owner's representative.
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 50 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
When does the lien on freight remain in place?
As long as the freight is payable, or is held by the master or the owner's representative.
Does the rule apply to the ship's accessories?
Yes. The same rule applies to the lien on the accessories of the ship and the accessories of the freight.
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 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 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.