Article 375 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 375 من النظام البحري التجاري · الباب العاشر: العقوبات
The article punishes with a fine of SAR 100,000 to 500,000 moving stranded ships or wreckage into territorial waters to evade the Law, preventing or obstructing the rescue of stranded ships, and hiding wreckage or its markers.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن مائة ألف ريال, ولا تزيد على خمسمائة ألف ريال:
1- كل من نقل إلى المياه الإقليمية للمملكة أي سفينة جانحة أو متروكة أو جزء من شحنتها أو ملحقاتها أو أي حطام بحري بقصد التحايل على أحكام هذا النظام.
2- كل من منع إنقاذ سفينة جانحة أو معرضة لخطر الجنوح, أو أعاقه أو حاول إعاقته.
3- كل من أخفى حطاماً بحريًّا داخل موانئ المملكة أو مياهها الإقليمية, أو أزال العلامات الدالة عليه أو محاها.
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 375 explained in plain English
This article sets a penalty of a fine of not less than SAR 100,000 and not more than SAR 500,000 for three acts, and it is addressed to anyone who commits them, not only the owner or the master:
- Moving to evade the Law: moving any stranded or abandoned ship, or part of its cargo or accessories, or any maritime wreckage, into the Kingdom's territorial waters with the intent of evading the provisions of this Law. Intent to evade is required.
- Preventing rescue: preventing the rescue of a stranded ship or one at risk of stranding, or obstructing it, or attempting to obstruct it. An attempt is punishable just as the act is.
- Hiding wreckage: hiding maritime wreckage within the Kingdom's ports or territorial waters, or removing or erasing the markers that indicate it.
According to Article 1, maritime wreckage is any ship or part of it that has sunk or stranded in the Kingdom's maritime areas, or anything lost from it at sea and carried by the current into these waters, as well as any ship that is about to sink or is reasonably expected to sink or strand without effective measures to help it.
Article 374 punishes the operator of an offshore platform for operating it without safety requirements, and Article 376 punishes a master who does not respond to a distress request without an acceptable justification. Anyone facing a charge of this kind should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal and maritime cases.
Practical example
A boat sank near the coast of Jazan, and a person removed the markers placed to show the location of its wreckage. He is punished with a fine of not less than SAR 100,000 and not more than SAR 500,000.
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 375 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What is the penalty for hiding maritime wreckage?
A fine of not less than one hundred thousand riyals and not more than five hundred thousand riyals for anyone who hides maritime wreckage within the Kingdom's ports or territorial waters, or removes or erases the markers that indicate it.
Is a person who obstructs the rescue of a stranded ship punished?
Yes. The same fine applies to anyone who prevents the rescue of a stranded ship or one at risk of stranding, or obstructs it or attempts to obstruct it.
More articles on Penalties Under the Commercial Maritime Law
- Article 373
The article punishes with a fine of SAR 100,000 to 1,000,000 anyone who flies the Kingdom's flag on an unregistered ship, with possible confiscation, or hides or defaces the ship's particulars, except to avoid capture.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن مائة ألف ريال, ولا تزيد على مليون ريال: 1- كل مالك أو مجهز أو ربان يرفع علم المملكة على سفينة غير مسجلة فيها، مع جواز الحكم بمصادرة السفي
- Article 374
The article punishes the operator of a marine platform with a fine of SAR 100,000 to 500,000 if he operates it without the safety requirements needed to protect persons and the environment.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن مائة ألف ريال, ولا تزيد على خمسمائة ألف ريال, مجهز المنصة البحرية في حالة تشغيلها دون توافر متطلبات السلامة اللازمة لحماية الأشخاص والبيئ
- Article 376
The article punishes with a fine of SAR 10,000 to 100,000 a master who does not respond to a distress call without an acceptable justification, and the operator if the violation is on his express instructions.
1- يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن عشرة آلاف ريال، ولا تزيد على مائة ألف ريال, كل ربان لم يستجب لطلب الاستغاثة لإنقاذ سفينة تشرف على الغرق أو لإنقاذ شخص يعثر عليه في الب
- Article 377
The article punishes with a fine of SAR 10,000 to 100,000 the master or operator of a Saudi ship who sails it without a valid certificate, or sails a ship that has been ordered suspended or barred from sailing.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن عشرة آلاف ريال, ولا تزيد على مائة ألف ريال, كل ربان أو مجهز لسفينة ترفع علم المملكة يسيِّرها دون أن تحمل شهادة سارية من الشهادات المشار إ
- Article 378
The article punishes with a fine of SAR 10,000 to 100,000 anyone who disrupts or obstructs maritime inspection delegates or experts of classification societies authorized by the Authority from carrying out their task.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن عشرة آلاف ريال, ولا تزيد على مائة ألف ريال, كل من يعطل أو يعوق عمل مندوبي التفتيش البحري أو خبراء هيئات التصنيف المفوضة من الهيئة عن أداء
- Article 379
The article punishes with a fine of SAR 10,000 to 50,000 any person who pilots a ship without holding a permit from the competent authority.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن عشرة آلاف ريال, ولا تزيد على خمسين ألف ريال, كل شخص يتولى إرشاد سفينة دون أن يكون حاملاً لتصريح من السلطة المختصة.
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.