Article 63 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 63 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: الرهن البحري
A ship mortgage is registered in the ship register at the ship's registration office, a mortgage on a ship under construction must be registered at the registration office, and the regulations specify the registration and proof procedures.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقيد الرهن في سجل السفن بمكتب تسجيل السفينة، واذا ترتب الرهن على السفينة وهي في طور البناء وجب قيده في مكتب التسجيل، وتحدد اللوائح إجراءات قيد الرهن وإثباته.
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 63 explained in plain English
This article states where the maritime mortgage is registered. As a rule, a mortgage on a ship is registered in the ship register at the ship's registration office, the official register in which the particulars of ships and their owners are recorded, as defined in Article 1.
If the mortgage is created on a ship under construction, it must also be registered at the registration office. This is linked to Article 62, which requires that the registration of such a mortgage be preceded by a declaration stating the place of construction and the ship's length, dimensions and approximate tonnage.
The article does not detail the registration steps, but refers to the Implementing Regulations to specify the procedures for registering the mortgage and proving it; the person concerned should therefore refer to those regulations and to the registration office to learn the documents and procedures required.
The importance of registration derives from other provisions in the same chapter; Article 64 requires the name of the new creditor to be noted in the mortgage registration if his rights pass to him by endorsement. When arranging a mortgage on a ship or verifying its registration, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in maritime and commercial law.
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 63 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Where is a ship mortgage registered?
It is registered in the ship register at the ship's registration office.
How is the mortgage of a ship still under construction registered?
It must be registered at the registration office, after a declaration stating the place of construction, dimensions and approximate tonnage, as Article 62 requires.
Who specifies the procedures for registering a maritime mortgage?
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations of the Law to specify the procedures for registering the mortgage and proving it.
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.