Article 56 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 56 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: حقوق الامتياز على السفينة
The article provides that giving the master and crew an advance or a payment on account does not make their debts referred to in paragraph (2) of Article 46 payable before their due date.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يترتب على تسليم الربان والبحارة وغيرهم ممن يرتبطون بعقد عمل في السفينة مبلغاً مقدماً أو على الحساب اعتبار ديونهم المشار إليها في الفقرة (2) من المادة (السادسة والأربعين) مستحقة الدفع قبل حلول الأجل المعين لها.
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 56 explained in plain English
This article concerns the debts of the master and the crew and others bound by an employment contract on the ship, which are the debts mentioned in paragraph (2) of Article 46: debts arising from the employment contract of the master, the crew and others bound by a maritime employment contract on the ship, including social insurance contributions.
The rule: if these persons receive an advance payment or a payment on account, that does not make their debts payable before the due date set for them.
In practical terms, an advance or a down payment does not change the due date of the rest of the debt. The full wage is not treated as due merely because part of it was paid in advance; it stays tied to its fixed due date. What counts for due dates is the date fixed for the debt, not the date the advance was paid.
The article does not address the amount of the wage or how it is paid. Since the rule concerns maritime employment contracts, a person with a dispute over maritime wages may consult a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A sailor received an advance on his wages before sailing, and his wages are due at the end of the voyage. The advance does not make the rest of his wages payable before the end of the voyage.
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 56 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Does a sailor's wage become due if he takes an advance?
No. Giving an advance or a payment on account does not make his debts payable before the due date set for them.
Who does this rule apply to?
To the master, the crew and others bound by an employment contract on the ship, with respect to their debts mentioned in paragraph 2 of Article 46.
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.