Article 359 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 359 من النظام البحري التجاري · الباب الثامن: منع التلوث البحري ومكافحته
The article gives the authority competent for maritime inspection the right to inspect the oil records of all ships in the Kingdom's ports.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للسلطة المختصة بالتفتيش البحري الحق في التفتيش على سجلات الزيت لجميع السفن الموجودة في موانئ المملكة.
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 359 explained in plain English
This article gives the authority competent for maritime inspection a specific power: inspecting oil records.
- Scope: all ships, with no distinction between Saudi and foreign ones.
- Place: ships in the Kingdom's ports.
The article does not define oil records. Under Article 1, oil includes crude petroleum, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil, lubricating oil and other petroleum derivatives.
Note that the text uses the word right, so it is a power established for the authority over every ship in the ports. The article does not set out inspection procedures or the consequences of a violation found in the records.
This article is among the provisions on preventing and combating marine pollution. Article 358 requires the master to notify port authorities immediately of any oil leak and requires ships to carry an emergency plan, and Article 360 requires barges and fuel-carrying ships in the Kingdom's ports and territorial waters to keep a special record of their operations as the regulations specify.
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 359 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Who has the right to inspect ships' oil records?
The authority competent for maritime inspection.
Does the inspection include foreign ships?
Yes, the right covers all ships in the Kingdom's ports.
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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.