Article 291 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 291 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الرابع: التحقيق في الحوادث البحرية
The article requires the competent authority, on a written request from any state, to investigate any violation of the international pollution prevention rules allegedly committed by a Saudi ship in that state's maritime zones, and to notify it of the result.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تجري الجهة المختصة تحقيقاً بناء على طلب مكتوب من أي دولة, في أي مخالفة للقواعد الدولية المطبقة من أجل منع تلوث البيئة البحرية يدَّعى أن سفينة سعودية ارتكبتها في المناطق البحرية التابعة لتلك الدولة، وتبلغها بالإجراء المتخذ ونتيجته.
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 291 explained in plain English
This article regulates a special kind of investigation relating to pollution of the marine environment outside the Kingdom:
- Who requests: any state.
- Form of the request: it must be a written request.
- Subject of the investigation: any violation of the international rules applied to prevent pollution of the marine environment.
- Who it is attributed to: a Saudi ship alleged to have committed the violation.
- Place of the violation: in the maritime zones belonging to the requesting state.
The competent authority is then required to notify the requesting state of the action taken and its result.
The difference between this article and Article 290 is that the latter deals with the investigation the Kingdom conducts into accidents in its maritime zones and accidents of its ships on the high seas, and its cooperation in other states' investigations, whereas this article requires it to conduct an investigation itself at the request of another state into pollution violations. The article does not specify the international rules meant or the investigation procedures. Article 292 provides that the competent authority forms special committees to investigate maritime accidents.
Practical example
A neighboring state alleges that a Saudi tanker discharged oily waste into its territorial waters in violation of the pollution prevention rules, and sends a written request to the Kingdom. The competent authority conducts an investigation into this, then notifies that state of the action taken and its result.
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 291 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Does the Kingdom investigate pollution caused by a Saudi ship outside it?
Yes. The competent authority conducts an investigation, on a written request from any state, into any violation of pollution prevention rules that a Saudi ship is alleged to have committed in that state's maritime zones.
Is the requesting state told the result?
Yes. The competent authority notifies it of the action taken and its result.
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على الربان أن يتولى بنفسه قيادة السفينة عند دخولها الموانئ، أو خروجها منها أو أثناء اجتياز الممرات البحرية، وكذلك في جميع الأحوال التي تعترض الملاحة عقبات خاصة،
- Article 255
The Article provides that the liability set out in the collision chapter also arises if the collision occurs through the pilot's fault, even if pilotage is compulsory, without prejudice to the general rules of liability.
تترتب المسؤولية المنصوص عليها في هذا الفصل, إذا وقع التصادم بخطأ المرشد، ولو كان الإرشاد إجباريًّا، وذلك مع عدم الإخلال بالقواعد العامة في المسؤولية.
- Article 261
The Article provides for a salvage reward when there is a useful result, not exceeding the value of what was saved, reasonable expenses when there is none, and special compensation for saving a ship threatening the marine environment.
1- كل عمل من أعمال الإنقاذ البحري يعطي الحق في مكافأة بشرط أن يؤدي إلى نتيجة مفيدة، ولا يجوز أن تتجاوز المكافأة قيمة ما أُنقذ. 2- إذا لم تؤدِّ أعمال الإنقاذ إلى
- Article 264
The Article sets three cases where no salvage reward or related expenses are due: express reasonable refusal by the ship, salvage of mail, and a tug's assistance to the ship in tow except for exceptional services.
لا تستحق أي مكافأة للإنقاذ البحري أو النفقات التابعة له في الحالات الآتية: 1- إذا كانت السفينة التي قدمت لها أعمال الإنقاذ البحري قد رفضت تدخل السفينة المقدمة ل
- Article 346
The article requires ships carrying oil from or to the Kingdom to carry a civil liability insurance certificate covering liability for any damage arising from the carriage.
تلتزم السفن التي تنقل الزيت من المملكة أو إليها بحمل شهادة تأمين المسؤولية المدنية؛ لتغطية ما قد ينشأ من مسؤولية عن أي ضرر ناشئ عن عملية النقل.
- Article 358
The article requires the master to notify port authorities immediately of any oil leak from his ship in the Kingdom's ports or maritime areas, and requires ships to carry a pollution emergency plan that the master implements at once.
1- يتعين على ربان السفينة أن يبلغ سلطات الموانئ بأي حادث تسرب للزيت من سفينته أثناء وجودها في موانئ المملكة أو مناطقها البحرية فور حدوثه، مع بيان ظروف الحادث وا
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.