Article 368 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 368 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: الإرشاد البحري
The article makes pilotage compulsory for all ships entering, moving in or leaving the Kingdom's ports, leaves its rules, areas and fees to the competent body, and exempts specified categories of ships.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- الإرشاد إجباري في موانئ المملكة على جميع السفن عند دخولها أو تحركها في موانئ المملكة أو خروجها منها, وتحدد الجهة المختصة قواعد الإرشاد، وتعين مناطقه، وتحدد الأجور الأصلية والإضافية التي تستحق عنه.
2- يستثنى من حكم الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة ما يأتي:
أ- السفن الحربية.
ب- سفن حكومة المملكة المخصصة للخدمات العامة ولأغراض غير تجارية.
ج- سفن الصيد والسفن التي تقل حمولتها الصافية عن 150 طنًّا.
د- الوحدات البحرية التابعة للموانئ.
هـ- سفن النزهة.
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 368 explained in plain English
This article makes marine pilotage compulsory in the Kingdom's ports:
The rule (paragraph 1): pilotage is compulsory for all ships when:
- entering the Kingdom's ports,
- or moving in them,
- or leaving them.
The competent body sets the pilotage rules, designates its areas, and determines the basic and additional fees due for it. The article does not state the amount of the fees, but refers them to that body.
Exceptions (paragraph 2): compulsory pilotage does not apply to:
- Warships.
- Ships of the Kingdom's government assigned to public services and non-commercial purposes.
- Fishing ships, and ships whose net tonnage is less than 150 tons.
- Marine units belonging to the ports.
- Pleasure ships.
Note that the exception concerns the compulsory nature of pilotage; the article does not address these ships requesting pilotage voluntarily.
Article 369 sets what a ship subject to the pilotage rules must do, such as raising the signal requesting a pilot and informing him of its draft, dimensions and maneuvering ability. Article 367 provides that towage claims are not heard after two years from the end of the operation.
Practical example
A commercial cargo ship with a net tonnage of 20,000 tons arrives at Jeddah Islamic Port. It must use a pilot when entering the port, moving in it and leaving it. A small fishing boat, however, is not subject to this requirement.
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 368 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Is marine pilotage compulsory in Saudi ports?
Yes, pilotage is compulsory for all ships entering, moving in or leaving the Kingdom's ports, except the exempted categories.
Which ships are exempt from compulsory pilotage?
Warships, ships of the Kingdom's government assigned to public services and non-commercial purposes, fishing ships and ships of less than 150 tons net tonnage, marine units belonging to the ports, and pleasure ships.
Who sets pilotage fees?
The competent body, which sets the pilotage rules, designates its areas and determines its basic and additional fees.
More articles on Marine Pollution, Towage and Pilotage
- Article 103
The master must personally command the ship when entering and leaving ports, passing through waterways and whenever special obstacles confront navigation, even if he is obliged to use a pilot.
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 291
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.
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
- 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.
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.