Article 30 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 30 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل السابع: هيئات تصنيف السفن
The article lets the President determine by decision the classification societies that may be authorized by agreement with the Authority to survey, inspect and certify Saudi-flagged ships, provided they are IACS members and meet the regulations' conditions.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تحدد بقرار من الرئيس هيئات التصنيف المحلية أو الدولية التي يمكن تفويضها بموجب اتفاق تبرمه الهيئة معها، للقيام بأعمال المعاينات والفحص وإصدار الشهادات للسفن التي ترفع علم المملكة، على أن تكون تلك الهيئات عضواً في اتحاد هيئات التصنيف الدولية "أياكس" وأن تتوافر فيها الشروط التي تحددها اللوائح.
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 30 explained in plain English
This article regulates ship classification societies that may carry out technical work on behalf of the Authority.
1. How they are determined: these societies are determined by a decision of the President.
2. How authority is delegated: an agreement the Authority concludes with the classification society.
3. The delegated work:
- Surveys.
- Inspection.
- Issuing certificates.
This is for ships flying the Kingdom's flag.
4. Conditions:
- The classification society must be local or international.
- It must be a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
- It must meet the conditions set by the regulations.
In practical terms for the ship owner, inspection and certificates may be issued by an approved classification society instead of the Authority itself, provided it is among the societies determined by the President's decision and authorized by agreement with the Authority. IACS membership is a necessary condition, and nothing else suffices without it. The article is related to Article 29 on offshore platforms, which are subject to periodic inspection every five years under the regulations.
A person who wants to verify the approval of a particular classification society can refer to the President's decision or consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases.
Practical example
The owner of a Saudi ship needs to renew its technical certificates. He may use an international classification society if it is an IACS member, determined by a decision of the President and authorized by agreement with the Authority.
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 30 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Who determines the approved ship classification societies?
They are determined by a decision of the President, and are authorized under an agreement the Authority concludes with them.
What is the condition for authorizing a classification society?
It must be a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) and meet the conditions set by the regulations.
What work do classification societies do?
Surveys, inspection and issuing certificates for ships flying the Kingdom's flag.
More articles on Registration of Ships and Maritime Units
- Article 7
Article 7 bars a self-propelled ship from sailing under the Kingdom's flag without registration, refers the procedures to the regulations, and exempts specific vessels by length, tonnage and type.
1- لا يجوز لأي سفينة ذاتية الدفع أن تبحر رافعة علم المملكة إلاَّ إذا كانت مسجلة وفقاً لأحكام هذا النظام, وتحدد اللوائح إجراءات التسجيل وشروطه, وإصدار الشهادة. 2
- Article 8
Article 8 regulates ship registration offices approved by the Chairman, the ship register and its entries, the registration record and its publication and announcement at the owner's expense, and registration fees.
1- تسجل السفن في مكاتب التسجيل المعتمدة بقرار من الرئيس في أيٍّ من موانئ المملكة. 2- ينشأ في كل مكتب من مكاتب التسجيل سجل خاص يسمى (سجل السفن)، ترقم صفحاته، وتخ
- Article 9
Article 9 bars a ship from sailing under the flag of more than one state, registering a ship already registered in another state before its deletion, and changing flag while sailing or stopped except for a transfer of ownership or registration change.
1- لا يجوز للسفينة أن تبحر، وهي رافعة علم أكثر من دولة. 2- لا يجوز أن تسجل سفينة في سجل السفن إذا كانت مسجلة في سجل سفن دولة أخرى، ما لم تكن قد شطبت من ذلك السج
- Article 10
Article 10 requires, for a ship to be registered, that the Authority or a delegated approved classification society inspect, survey and measure it and assess its tonnage, after the ownership document is submitted.
يشترط لتسجيل السفينة فحصها ومعاينتها وقياسها وتقدير حمولتها من قبل الهيئة أو من تفوضه من إحدى هيئات التصنيف المحلية أو الدولية المعتمدة بعد تقديم وثيقة ملكيتها.
- Article 11
Article 11 requires every Saudi ship to have a name, written at its bow and stern in clear Arabic and Latin letters with its port of registration, and bars the same name for more than one ship in the Kingdom.
أ- يجب على كل سفينة سعودية أن تتخذ لها اسماً، ويجب أن يكتب اسمها على مقدمتها من الجانبين وعلى مؤخرتها بحروف عربية ولاتينية ظاهرة وبلون مختلف عن لونها، ويجب كذلك
- Article 12
Article 12 empowers the registration office to issue a temporary registration certificate valid for one or more voyages, or for six months renewable for up to two years.
يصدر مكتب التسجيل شهادة تسجيل مؤقتة للسفينة، تكون صالحة لرحلة واحدة أو أكثر، أو لمدة ستة أشهر قابلة للتجديد لمدة أقصاها سنتان.
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.