Ship Arrest in Saudi Arabia (Introduction to the Domestic Practice)

Analysis

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (‘KSA') enjoys a strategic geographical position on the global sea trade map as reflected by the fact that Jeddah Islamic Port was ranked 33rd on Lloyd's global list of the busiest ports running bulk docks.

By contrast, the KSA domestic maritime practice has ensured that the arrest of ships in KSA is somewhat of an enigma for many international carriers, insurers, and traders. This article considers, the complex maritime practice for ship arrest in KSA.

Background

The basic tenets of KSA maritime practice rest on section two of the 1931 Commercial Court Law (‘CCL'). The CCL has been amended over the years most notably by the newly enacted Enforcement Regulations (‘ER') that now govern the procedure for arresting ships.