Article 358 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 358 من النظام البحري التجاري · الباب الثامن: منع التلوث البحري ومكافحته
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 والإجراءات التي اتخذت لإيقاف التسرب أو الحد منه.
2- يتعين على السفن أن تحمل خطة طوارئ لمجابهة التلوث بالزيت، وينفذها ربان السفينة فور حدوثه.
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 358 explained in plain English
This article sets two obligations for dealing with an oil leak:
1. Immediate notification (paragraph 1): the ship's master must notify the port authorities of any incident of oil leaking from his ship:
- When? As soon as it occurs.
- Where? While the ship is in the Kingdom's ports or maritime areas.
- What does the notice include? A statement of the circumstances of the incident, and of the measures taken to stop the leak or limit it.
2. Emergency plan (paragraph 2): ships must carry an emergency plan to confront oil pollution, which the master implements as soon as it occurs.
Under Article 1, oil includes crude petroleum, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil, lubricating oil and other petroleum derivatives. The Kingdom's maritime areas are the internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as defined by law.
The article does not specify the content of the emergency plan. Article 359 gives the authority competent for maritime inspection the right to inspect the oil records of all ships in the Kingdom's ports.
Practical example
The master of a ship anchored at the port of Jeddah notices an oil leak from its tank. He must notify the port authorities immediately, stating the circumstances of the incident and what he has done to stop the leak or limit it, and implement the emergency plan to confront oil pollution that the ship must carry.
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 358 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What must the master do when oil leaks from his ship?
Notify the port authorities as soon as it occurs if the ship is in the Kingdom's ports or maritime areas, stating the circumstances of the incident and the measures taken to stop the leak or limit it, and implement the emergency plan.
Must ships carry a pollution emergency plan?
Yes, ships must carry an emergency plan to confront oil pollution, which the master implements as soon as it occurs.
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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.