Article 382 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 382 من النظام البحري التجاري · الباب العاشر: العقوبات
The article punishes with a fine of SAR 1,000 to 20,000 a crew member who causes a ship to be suspended or barred from sailing by untrue statements, rising to as much as SAR 50,000 if in bad faith.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن ألف ريال, ولا تزيد على عشرين ألف ريال, كل فرد من طاقم السفينة أو الوحدة البحرية يتسبب في إيقافها أو منع سفرها بأقوال يثبت عدم صحتها، وإذا قدمها بسوء نية يعاقب بغرامة لا تتجاوز خمسين ألف ريال.
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 382 explained in plain English
This article deals with the situation of suspending a ship because of untrue statements by a member of its crew:
- The person addressed: every member of the crew of the ship or maritime unit.
- The act: causing its suspension or a ban on its sailing by statements proved to be untrue.
The penalty depends on intent:
- The basic rule: a fine of not less than SAR 1,000 and not more than SAR 20,000.
- In case of bad faith: a fine of not more than SAR 50,000.
The text thus makes the penalty heavier for a person who gives untrue statements knowing them to be so, and is content with the lighter penalty for a person whose statements are proved untrue without bad faith.
Note that the penalty requires two things: that the statements actually cause the ship to be suspended or barred from sailing, and that they are proved untrue. The article does not address the case of a person who reports a true matter in good faith.
Article 381 punishes recovering wreckage without permission and boarding stranded ships without the master's permission, while Article 383 punishes the ship's owner for violating the procedures of registration, reporting of modifications and deregistration. Anyone facing a charge of this kind should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal and maritime cases.
Practical example
One of a ship's sailors in the port of Jeddah told the authorities that the ship was unseaworthy, and it was barred from sailing, then his statements were proved untrue. He is punished with a fine of not less than SAR 1,000 and not more than SAR 20,000, and if it is proved he made them in bad faith, with a fine of not more than SAR 50,000.
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 382 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What is the penalty for a sailor who causes a ship to be suspended by untrue statements?
A fine of not less than one thousand riyals and not more than twenty thousand riyals, and if he made them in bad faith, a fine of not more than fifty thousand riyals.
Is a person who reports a true matter punished?
The article punishes statements proved to be untrue that cause the ship to be suspended or barred from sailing.
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 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
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.