Article 81 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 81 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الأول: الحجز التحفظي
The competent court orders the ship released if a guarantee or sufficient security for the debt is provided, except in ownership and co-ownership disputes, where it may only permit operation of the ship against security or organize its management.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تصدر المحكمة المختصة أمراً قضائيًّا برفع الحجز، إذا قدمت كفالة أو أي ضمان يكفي للوفاء بالدين المدعى به.
2- لا يجوز الأمر برفع الحجز إذا تقرر بسبب الديون البحرية المذكورة في الفقرتين (14) و(15) من المادة (الخامسة والسبعين) من النظام. وفي هذه الحالة يجوز للمحكمة الإذن لحائز السفينة باستغلالها، إذا قدم ضماناً كافياً، أو بتنظيم إدارة السفينة خلال مدة الحجز بالكيفية التي يقررها الإذن.
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 81 explained in plain English
This article explains how an attachment on a ship is lifted.
The general rule: the competent court issues an order lifting the attachment if a guarantee or any security sufficient to satisfy the debt claimed is provided. The ship's owner can thus free it to return to work, and the security remains a substitute that protects the creditor.
The exception: the attachment may not be ordered lifted if it was imposed because of the debts mentioned in items 14 and 15 of Article 75, namely:
- A dispute over ownership of the ship.
- A dispute over ownership, possession or operation of a jointly owned ship, or over the co-owners' rights to the proceeds of operation.
In this case the ship is not released, but the court may:
- permit the possessor of the ship to operate it if he provides sufficient security, or
- organize the management of the ship during the attachment in the manner set out in the permission.
The reason is that the dispute here concerns the ship itself, so a sum of money is no substitute. To assess the appropriate security or to request permission to operate, consult a lawyer who specializes in maritime and commercial law.
Practical example
A cargo ship was attached at the port of Jeddah because of a debt owed to a repair company. The owner provided a bank guarantee sufficient to cover the debt, so the competent court orders the attachment lifted and the ship returns to its voyages.
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 81 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
How do I lift the attachment on my ship?
By providing a guarantee or any security sufficient to satisfy the debt claimed, after which the competent court issues an order lifting the attachment.
Can the attachment be lifted by guarantee in a dispute over ownership of the ship?
No. An attachment imposed because of the debts in items 14 and 15 of Article 75 may not be lifted, but the court may permit operation of the ship against sufficient security or organize its management during the attachment.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Precautionary and Executory Attachment of Ships
- Article 44
The article provides that if shares representing more than half the ship are attached, the judicial sale covers the whole ship, though the court may limit it to the attached shares for serious reasons at the request of an owner whose shares were not attached.
إذا وقع الحجز على حصص تمثل أكثر من نصف السفينة شمل البيع القضائي السفينة بأكملها. ومع ذلك يجوز أن تأمر المحكمة -بناءً على طلب أحد المالكين الذين لم يحجز على حصص
- Article 67
Mortgagee creditors may pursue the mortgaged ship into any hands and apply for a precautionary attachment, and the ship may not be disposed of once the attachment report is registered in the ship register.
الدائنون المرتهنون لسفينة، أو لجزء منها، يتتبعونها في أي يد كانت، ولهم حق التقدم بطلب الحجز التحفظي عليها، ولا يجوز التصرف في السفينة المرهونة بعد قيد محضر حجزه
- Article 68
If half of the ship or less is mortgaged, the creditor may attach and sell only the mortgaged part; if more than half, the court may order the sale of the whole ship, and co-owners must be notified fifteen days before the sale.
1- إذا كان الرهن واقعاً على جزء لا يزيد على نصف السفينة فليس للدائن إلا حجز هذا الجزء وبيعه، وإذا كان الرهن واقعاً على أكثر من نصف السفينة جاز للمحكمة -بناء على
- Article 69
Carrying out a court order for the sale of the ship clears it of all mortgages, and the rights of mortgagee creditors shift from the ship to its price.
يترتب على تنفيذ الأمر القضائي بالبيع تطهير السفينة من جميع الرهون، وتنتقل حقوق الدائنين إلى الثمن.
- Article 70
If ownership of the mortgaged ship has passed before the attachment report is registered, the creditor notifies the possessor of the attachment and demands the price; the possessor may avoid attachment and sale by notifying the registered creditors within the period and stating his readiness to pay.
1- إذا انتقلت ملكية السفينة المرهونة، أو بعضها -قبل قيد محضر الحجز- فعلى الدائن المرتهن الذي اتخذ إجراءات التنفيذ على السفينة أن يبلغ الحائز للسفينة بمحضر الحجز
- Article 71
When ownership of a mortgaged ship has passed under Article 70, each creditor may request its sale by judgment of the competent court with a guarantee for the price and expenses, and the request is notified to the possessor within ten days.
1- يجوز لكل دائن في الحالة المبينة في المادة (السبعين) أن يطلب بيع السفينة أو جزء منها بحكمٍ من المحكمة المختصة، مع تقديم كفالة بالثمن والمصروفات، وتكليف الحائز
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.