Article 371 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 371 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: الإرشاد البحري
The article requires the pilot to help a ship in imminent danger first even if not asked, coordinating with the competent authority, and makes the operator bear the pilot's expenses if he must travel with the ship.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- على المرشد أن يقدم مساعدته أولاً للسفينة التي تكون في خطر محدق، ولو لم يطلب منه ذلك، على أن يُنسق في هذا الشأن ما أمكن مع السلطة المختصة.
2- إذا اضطر المرشد إلى السفر مع السفينة بسبب سوء الأحوال الجوية، أو بناء على طلب الربان, التزم مجهز السفينة بنفقات غذائه وإقامته وإعادته إلى الميناء الذي قام منه مع التعويض عند الاقتضاء.
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 371 explained in plain English
This article deals with two matters:
1. Priority of a ship in danger (paragraph 1): the pilot must give his help first to the ship in imminent danger:
- even if he was not asked to.
- provided that he coordinates as far as possible with the competent authority.
So imminent danger takes precedence over other pilotage work.
2. The pilot traveling with the ship (paragraph 2): if the pilot is compelled to travel with the ship:
- because of bad weather, or
- at the master's request,
the ship's operator is bound for:
- the cost of his food and lodging,
- and returning him to the port from which he set out,
- with compensation where appropriate.
The article does not specify when compensation is appropriate or its amount.
Article 370 keeps command of the ship with the master during pilotage and distributes responsibility for its damages, while Article 372 provides that a claim arising from the pilotage operation is not heard after two years from its end.
Practical example
A pilot boards a ship to take it out of the port of Yanbu, then the weather worsens so that he cannot disembark and is compelled to travel with it to the next port. The ship's operator is bound for the cost of his food and lodging and returning him to Yanbu, with compensation where appropriate.
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 371 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Must a pilot help a ship in danger without being asked?
Yes, the pilot must give his help first to the ship in imminent danger even if not asked, coordinating as far as possible with the competent authority.
Who pays the pilot's expenses if he travels with the ship?
If he is compelled to travel because of bad weather or at the master's request, the ship's operator is bound for the cost of his food and lodging and returning him to the port from which he set out, with compensation where appropriate.
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.