Article 55 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 55 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: حقوق الامتياز على السفينة
The article extends the lien expiry period in paragraph (3) of Article 54 to three years where the ship cannot be attached in the Kingdom's maritime areas, for specified categories of creditors.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تمتد مدة الانقضاء المشار إليه في الفقرة (3) من المادة (الرابعة والخمسين) إلى ثلاث سنوات إذا تعذر حجز السفينة المقرر عليها الامتياز في المناطق البحرية في المملكة، ولا يستفيد من ذلك إلا الأشخاص الذين يتمتعون بالجنسية السعودية أو الذين لهم موطن فيها، أو الأشخاص الذين ينتمون إلى جنسية دولة تعامل رعايا المملكة بالمثل.
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 55 explained in plain English
This article provides an exception to the expiry period for liens in paragraph (3) of Article 54, which is one year, or six months for the supply debts referred to in paragraph (6) of Article 46.
The rule: the expiry period is extended to three years.
The condition: if it is impossible to attach the ship on which the lien lies in the maritime areas of the Kingdom.
Who benefits? Only:
- Persons holding Saudi nationality, or
- Those domiciled in the Kingdom, or
- Persons who belong to the nationality of a state that treats the Kingdom's nationals on a reciprocal basis.
In practical terms, a Saudi or resident creditor, or one from a state that reciprocates for Saudis, who could not attach the ship because it did not enter Saudi waters does not lose his lien after one year; the period is extended to three years. Others keep the original period.
The article does not state how the impossibility of attachment is proved, nor from what date the three years run, beyond the reference to the period in paragraph (3). A person holding a privileged debt on a ship that is absent from Saudi waters would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in commercial or international cases.
Practical example
A Saudi company has a privileged claim for compensation for damaged goods on a foreign ship that has not returned to the Kingdom's ports. Because attaching the ship in the Kingdom's maritime areas was impossible, the period for expiry of the company's lien is extended to three years instead of one.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCommercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 55 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
When is the maritime lien period extended to three years?
If it is impossible to attach the ship on which the lien lies in the maritime areas of the Kingdom.
Who benefits from the extension of the lien period?
Saudis, those domiciled in the Kingdom, and those who belong to the nationality of a state that treats the Kingdom's nationals on a reciprocal basis.
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 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
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.