Article 378 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 378 من النظام البحري التجاري · الباب العاشر: العقوبات
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 مهمتهم.
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 378 explained in plain English
This article protects the work of the maritime oversight bodies and sets a penalty of a fine of not less than SAR 10,000 and not more than SAR 100,000 for:
- The person addressed: anyone who commits the act, so it is not limited to the owner or master.
- The act: disrupting or obstructing the work of:
- maritime inspection delegates, or
- experts of classification societies authorized by the Authority.
- from carrying out their task.
According to Article 1, the Authority is the Transport General Authority. Note that the protection covers experts of classification societies on condition that these societies are authorized by the Authority.
The article does not specify the forms of disruption or obstruction, so on its face the text covers any act that prevents these persons from carrying out their task or hinders it.
Article 377 punishes with the same fine a master or operator who sails a ship flying the Kingdom's flag without a valid certificate or despite a decision suspending it, while Article 379 punishes with a fine of SAR 10,000 to 50,000 anyone who pilots a ship without a permit from the competent authority. Anyone facing a charge of this kind should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal and maritime cases.
Practical example
A maritime inspection delegate boarded a ship in the port of Jeddah to inspect it, and a ship's officer prevented him from reaching the engine room. Whoever obstructed the delegate is punished with a fine of not less than SAR 10,000 and not more than SAR 100,000.
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 378 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What is the penalty for obstructing a maritime inspector's work?
A fine of not less than ten thousand riyals and not more than one hundred thousand riyals for anyone who disrupts or obstructs maritime inspection delegates from carrying out their task.
Does the protection cover experts of classification societies?
Yes, if the classification societies are authorized by the Authority.
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 375
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.
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 ملحق
- 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 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.